title: Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) beta-glucan (Sophy beta-glucan) enhances natural killer activity in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice.
abstract: The beta-glucans derived from yeast cell walls have been reported for having many immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) beta-glucan (Sophy beta-glucan) was checked for natural killer (NK) activity and for the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in Leishmania amazonensis infection. The main experiment was performed with a group of female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, orally supplemented with 5% of Sophy beta-glucan and infected with promastogotes of L. amazonensis (1 x 10(7)) into the footpad. Increase in the footpad thickness with time was observed in BALB/c mice in spite of the oral Sophy beta-glucan supplement, but it was less in C57BL/6 mice. The difference in overall mean footpad thickness between 'infection only' versus 'infection + glucan' groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). High NK activity in C57BL/6 than BALB/c mice was observed in 'glucan only' group compared to the control group and also in 'infection + glucan' group compared to 'infection only' group. The difference in the NK activity among these groups was significant (P < 0.05). The IFN-gamma level increased at weeks 7 and 8 post-infection in C57BL/6 mice and was significantly high in 'infection + glucan' group compared to the 'infection only' group (P < 0.05). IL-4 levels did not increase up to detectable levels throughout the study. The results led a conclusion that Sophy beta-glucan enhances NK activity and cellular immunity in L. amazonensis-infected mice.
authors: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Kochi Medical School, Oko, Nankoku City, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
authors: Lalani
authors: L
authors: Yatawara
authors: Susiji
authors: S
authors: Wickramasinghe
authors: Mitsuru
authors: M
authors: Nagataki
authors: Misa
authors: M
authors: Takamoto
authors: Haruka
authors: H
authors: Nomura
authors: Yasunori
authors: Y
authors: Ikeue
authors: Yoshiya
authors: Y
authors: Watanabe
authors: Takeshi
authors: T
authors: Agatsuma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000737:chemistry*; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000473:pathology; D005936:Glucans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007894:Leishmania mexicana / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C033671:epiglucan; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma