title: beta-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a blood platelet antioxidant.
abstract: Blood platelets in addition to their haemostatic role can function as inflammatory cells. The aim of our study was to assess if beta-D-glucan, the natural, very strong biological response modifier, may protect platelet proteins and lipids against oxidative/nitrative damages. The antioxidative activity of the beta-D-glucan, a known immunomodulator derived from the yeast cell walls of species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on blood platelets treated with oxidants-peroxynitrite and hydroperoxide-was studied in vitro. The levels of different specific markers of oxidative stress, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), carbonyl groups and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) were measured. Our studies showed that beta-glucan possesses significant defence properties against peroxynitrite or hydroperoxide induced lipid peroxidation. The level of TBARS was decreased by 80% at the highest dose of beta-glucan. In the presence of beta-glucan the distinct reduction of platelet protein oxidation was observed; the level of carbonyl groups was decreased by 50%. The results indicate that beta-glucan may also be effective in the protection against the nitrative action of peroxynitrite on platelet proteins, as in the presence of beta-glucan the level of 3-nitrotyrosine, measured by a competition-ELISA method, was diminished. The obtained in vitro results demonstrate that antiplatelet activity of beta-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is dependent on its antioxidative properties, and therefore beta-glucan supplementation may be beneficial in the prevention of excessive blood platelet activation-related diseases, such as cardiovascular or inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biochemistry, University of Lodz, 90-237 Lodz, Banacha 12/16, Poland. juszczak@biol.uni.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saluk-Juszczak
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krolewska
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wachowicz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry*; D055815:Young Adult; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D047071:beta-Glucans; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid