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. 2009 Dec;47(4):345-51.
doi: 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.4.345. Epub 2009 Dec 1.

Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) beta-glucan (Sophy beta-glucan) enhances natural killer activity in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice

Lalani Yatawara  1 , Susiji Wickramasinghe, Mitsuru Nagataki, Misa Takamoto, Haruka Nomura, Yasunori Ikeue, Yoshiya Watanabe, Takeshi Agatsuma
Affiliations

Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) beta-glucan (Sophy beta-glucan) enhances natural killer activity in Leishmania amazonensis-infected mice

Lalani Yatawara et al. Korean J Parasitol. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

The beta-glucans derived from yeast cell walls have been reported for having many immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. In this study, Aureobasidium-derived soluble branched (1,3-1,6) beta-glucan (Sophy beta-glucan) was checked for natural killer (NK) activity and for the production of IFN-gamma and IL-4 in Leishmania amazonensis infection. The main experiment was performed with a group of female C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, orally supplemented with 5% of Sophy beta-glucan and infected with promastogotes of L. amazonensis (1 x 10(7)) into the footpad. Increase in the footpad thickness with time was observed in BALB/c mice in spite of the oral Sophy beta-glucan supplement, but it was less in C57BL/6 mice. The difference in overall mean footpad thickness between 'infection only' versus 'infection + glucan' groups was statistically significant (P < 0.001). High NK activity in C57BL/6 than BALB/c mice was observed in 'glucan only' group compared to the control group and also in 'infection + glucan' group compared to 'infection only' group. The difference in the NK activity among these groups was significant (P < 0.05). The IFN-gamma level increased at weeks 7 and 8 post-infection in C57BL/6 mice and was significantly high in 'infection + glucan' group compared to the 'infection only' group (P < 0.05). IL-4 levels did not increase up to detectable levels throughout the study. The results led a conclusion that Sophy beta-glucan enhances NK activity and cellular immunity in L. amazonensis-infected mice.

Keywords: IFN-γ; Leishmania amazonensis; NK activity; Sophy β-glucan.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Footpad thickness in BALB/C mice at weeks 1 and 4 after L. amazonensis infection. The control group received water alone. In spite of Sophy β-glucan treatment, the footpad thickness increased in BALB/c mice. Each point represents the mean footpad thickness + SD difference.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Footpad thickness in 4 groups of C57BL/6 mice in L. amazonensis infection until 12 weeks. The control group received water alone. Infected mice treated with Sophy β-glucan showed a lower footpad swelling compared to infection only group. Each point represents the mean footpad thickness + SD difference.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
NK activity at week 4 post-infection (PI) in C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. The results are the mean value of 3 mice per each group. Significant difference was present in the NK activity between the C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice (P < 0.001). Difference in NK activity was significant between control and 'Sophy β-glucan only' groups and 'infection only' and 'infection + glucan' groups in C57BL/6 mice (*P < 0.05) at week 4 PI.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
NK activity at week 12 of L. amazonensis infection in C57BL/6 mice. The results are the mean value of 3 mice per each group. Significant difference was present between the control and 'Sophy β-glucan only' groups (*P < 0.05).
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Production of cytokines in C57BL/6 mice at week 8 PI. IL-4 was not detected during this period. However, IFN-γ level was detected in every experiment and was the highest in infected mice treated with Sophy β-glucan and the difference was significant between the 'infection only' and 'infection + Sophy β-glucan' groups (*P < 0.05). ND, not detected.
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