title: Stimulation of various functions in murine peritoneal macrophages by glucans produced by glucosyltransferases from Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: The glucan that was produced by glucosyltransferases (GTFs) from Streptococcus mutans was examined for its stimulating functions toward murine peritoneal macrophages. Soluble glucan was obtained by the reaction with cell-free crude GTFs and sucrose, followed by ethanol precipitation, dispersion in water and re-precipitation by ethanol. Soluble glucan, those average molecular weight was about 3 x 10(5), was composed of mixture of alpha-1,6 and alpha-1,3 linkages in a 3:1 ratio. When 30 and 60 microg/ml of the glucan was incubated with peritoneal macrophages, the lysosomal phosphatase activity was increased in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that soluble glucan may activate macrophages. To examine its effects on the various functions of macrophages, soluble glucan was orally administered daily at a level of 100 mg/kg of body weight to C57BL/6 mice. Significant stimulation of the production of H2O2 by the macrophages was observed without any increase in NO production. The production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by the macrophages was also stimulated from 538.73-555.06 pg/ml to 585.73-596.40 pg/ml during 15 days of oral administration of soluble glucan. The cytotoxicity of peritoneal macrophages against B16 tumor cells was significantly enhanced by 25-38% during 15 days of oral administration. These results may indicate that soluble glucan stimulates the immune functions of macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Korea Food Research Institute, Kyunggi-do 463-420, Korea. choiw@kfri.re.kr
authors.forename: Inwook
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Gayoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Seunghyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Changhwa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Yoonsook
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwangsoon
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000032:analysis; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000201:enzymology; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012995:Solubility; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000201:enzymology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; D010744:Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases