title: β-Glucan attenuates inflammatory responses in oxidized LDL-induced THP-1 cells via the p38 MAPK pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of β-(1,3/1,6)-d-glucan on atherosclerosis as well as on the molecular mechanisms of its transition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were differentiated into the macrophage phenotype by incubation with oxLDL in the absence or presence of β-glucan. β-glucan attenuated CD86 and CD80 expression and simultaneously reduced secretion of the inflammatory cytokines IL-2, IL-8, IL-12, TNF-α and IFN-γ. Western blot analysis showed that oxLDL treatment induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and ERK1/2 in PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells. However, β-glucan inhibited p38 MAPK activation. In experiments with monocytes derived from healthy donors, β-glucan inhibited IL-8, IL-12 and TNF-α production. The anti-inflammatory effects of β-glucan were also observed in atherosclerotic plaque cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  β-glucan inhibited oxLDL-induced pro-inflammatory effects in macrophages via regulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. This novel finding may provide insight for new therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China; Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China; Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai 200003, China.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Chemistry & Pharmacology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, S-221 85 Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China. Electronic address: zhaojz09@gmail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China; Central Lab, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou No.2 People's Hospital, Changzhou 213003, China. Electronic address: qichunjian@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qi
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D047071:beta-Glucans; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Macrophage; p38 MAPK; β-Glucan