title: Orally administered β-glucan attenuates the Th2 response in a model of airway hypersensitivity.
abstract: β-Glucan is a polysaccharide that can be extracted from fungal cell walls. Wellmune WGP(®), a preparation of β-1,3/1,6-glucans, is a dietary supplement that has immunomodulating properties. Here we investigated the effect WGP had on a mouse model of asthma. OVA-induced asthma in mice is characterized by infiltration of eosinophils into the lung, production of Th2 cytokines and IgE. Daily oral administration of WGP (400 µg) significantly reduced the influx of eosinophils into the lungs of OVA-challenged mice compared to control mice. In addition, WGP inhibited pulmonary production of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), however serum IgE levels were unaffected by WGP treatment. These data indicate that WGP could potentially be useful as an oral supplement for some asthma patients, however, it would need to be combined with therapies that target other aspects of the disease such as IgE levels. As such, further studies that examine the potential of WGP in combination with other therapies should be explored.
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA ; Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205 USA.
authors.forename: Ashley R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.affiliation: University Dental Hospital, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff, CF14 4XY Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Adam V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Chester, Chester, CH1 4BJ Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Boelte
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA.
authors.forename: Daniel W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: McVicar
authors.affiliation: Cancer and Inflammation Program, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, Frederick, MD 21702 USA ; Division of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Tenovus Building, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN Wales, UK.
authors.forename: Selinda J
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8539-7825
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Orr
keywords: Airway inflammation; Eosinophils; Th2; β-Glucan