title: Euglena gracilisparamylon activates human lymphocytes by upregulating pro-inflammatory factors.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify the activation details and products of human lymphomonocytes, stimulated by differentβ-glucans, that isEuglenaparamylon, MacroGard®, and lipopolysaccharide. We investigated the gene expression of inflammation-related cytokines and mediators, transactivation of relevant transcription factors, and phagocytosis role in cell-glucan interactions, by means of RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry, and colorimetric assay. Our results show that sonicated and alkalized paramylon upregulates pro-inflammatory factors (NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and COX-2) in lymphomonocytes. A clear demonstration of this upregulation is the increased transactivation of NF-kB visualized by immunofluorescence microscopy. Phagocytosis assay showed that internalization is not a mandatory step for signaling cascade to be triggered, since immune activity is not present in the lymphomonocytes that have internalized paramylon granules and particulate MacroGard®. Moreover, the response ofEuglena β-glucan-activated lymphomonocytes is much greater than that induced by commercially usedβ-glucans such as MacroGard®. Ourin vitroresults indicate that linear fibrousEuglena β-glucan, obtained by sonication and alkaline treatment can act as safe and effective coadjutant of the innate immune system response.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Rossella
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barsanti
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Valter
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Frassanito
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Longo
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale Sezione Malattie Metaboliche Università di Pisa Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Penno
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Biofisica, CNR Pisa Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gualtieri
keywords: Euglena; MacroGard®; glucans; innate immunity; paramylon