Production of interleukin-10 in asthmatic children after Beta-1-3-glucan.
BACKGROUND
Beta-1-3 Glucan is a polysaccharide extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae with a possible immunomodulating action that may have a favourable action on asthma symptoms and other allergic diseases. An experimental study carried out using a murine respiratory model detected a decrease in pulmonary tissue eosinophilia, as well as an increase in Interleukin-10 (IL-10) after glucan use.


METHODS
This open, exploratory study with blind outcome evaluation included asthmatic children between 6 and 12 years of age with mild to moderate persistent asthma and inadequate disease control (rescue medication needed more than twice a week) in spite of inhaled budesonide 400 microg/day. After a four week run-in period, subcutaneous Beta-1-3-glucan injections were given weekly for the first four weeks and then every two weeks for the last four weeks. IL-10 levels, measured by the immunoenzymatic method (ELISA), were compared before and after glucan administration.


RESULTS
Twenty patients (14 male and 6 female) were included. Mean IL-10 levels were 6.4 pg/ml and 11.3 pg/ml before and after glucan, respectively (p = 0.02). There was also a reduction of asthmatic symptoms score at the end of study.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study which shows that subcutaneous particulate Beta-1-3-glucan increases serum IL-10 levels in asthmatics. The possibility of glucan being able to modulate allergic sensitisation and having a beneficial action in restoring Th2 function should be assessed by means of properly planned controlled clinical trials, as it may represent a new therapeutic strategy.
Sarinho
E
E
Maternal and Child Department of Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil. emanuel.sarinho@gmail.com
Medeiros
D
D
Schor
D
D
Rego Silva
A
A
Sales
V
V
Motta
M E
ME
Costa
A
A
Azoubel
A
A
Rizzo
J A
JA
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D047071:beta-Glucans; D016753:Interleukin-10; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan