title: Effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-1, 3-D-glucan (branch beta-1, 6) isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans 1A1 strain black yeast on restraint stress in mice.
abstract: It is well known that different stress paradigms are able to rapidly induce corticosterone production and immune function through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It has been reported that glucocorticoids suppress natural killer (NK) activity and interleukin (IL)-1 production and, on the other hand, that IL-1 and IL-6 stimulate the release of corticotrophin-releasing-hormone from the rat hypothalamus. Moreover, it has been reported that IL-12 plays a central role in the initiation of cell-mediated immunity, directly and via its induction of interferon (IFN)-gamma and activation of NK cells. In this study, we examined the effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-glucan isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans 1A1 strain on the corticosterone levels and immune function, such as NK activity and IL-6 and IL-12 production, using a restraint stress-induced mouse model. The water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-glucan at a dose of 50 or 100 mg kg(-1) inhibited the increases in the blood corticosterone level and the reduction of NK activity induced by restraint stress. Furthermore, the water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-glucan (100 mg kg(-1)) prevented the reduction of IL-6 and IL-12 production by splenocytes caused by restraint stress. These findings suggest that the inhibitory actions of water-soluble low-molecular-weight beta-glucan on the increase in corticosterone level and reduction of NK activity induced by restraint stress may be associated with the abrogation of the IL-6 and IL-12 reduction caused by the stress. Thus, water-soluble low-molecularweight beta-glucan may be an effective dietary supplement for the prevention of stress.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Basic Medical Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon City, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. yokim@m.ehime-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Maho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sumiyoshi
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakanaka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D012149:Restraint, Physical; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D015850:Interleukin-6; C033671:epiglucan; D018664:Interleukin-12; D003345:Corticosterone