title: Oral administration of beta-1,3/1,6-glucan Macrogard fails to enhance the mucosal immune response following oral F4 fimbrial immunisation in gnotobiotic pigs.
abstract: In this study gnotobiotic animals were used to see if the F4 fimbrial antigen of F4ac+ Escherichia coli is as immunogenic as in conventional pigs. In addition, the adjuvant effect of beta-1,3/1,6-glucans was analysed for the first time in germ-free domestic animals. Oral F4 immunisation of F4 receptor positive (F4R(+)) piglets was able to induce a systemic and mucosal immune response as conventional pigs, although less pronounced. Nevertheless, an IgA response was observed in Peyer's patches and mesenteric lymph nodes. Moreover, a dose dependent effect was observed. Oral administration of beta-glucans for 5 weeks was not able to enhance this F4-specific immune response. The only effect of the beta-glucan treatment we observed was a significantly higher IL-1 alpha mRNA expression in the spleen. No significant changes in total serum antibody concentrations and in the volume of the ileal Peyer's patches were seen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. edith.stuyven@Ugent.be
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stuyven
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Van den Broeck
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nauwynck
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Goddeeris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D005856:Germ-Free Life; D018928:Immunity, Mucosal; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D056692:Prebiotics; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013552:Swine; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D056692:Prebiotics; D011509:Proteoglycans; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D047071:beta-Glucans; C064197:beta-1,6-glucan; C010770:polysaccharide-K