Immunomodulatory activities associated with beta-glucan derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

• Published in: Physiological research Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 557 - 564
• Main Authors: Pelizon, A C, Kaneno, R, Soares, A M V C, Meira, D A, Sartori, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Czech Republic 2005
• Subjects: Animals; Antifungal Agents - administration & dosage; Antifungal Agents - immunology; beta-Glucans - administration & dosage; beta-Glucans - immunology; Cytokines - immunology; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Immunologic Factors - administration & dosage; Immunologic Factors - immunology; Killer Cells, Natural - drug effects; Killer Cells, Natural - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Paracoccidioides - cytology; Paracoccidioides - drug effects; Saccharomyces cerevisiae - metabolism
• ISSN: 0862-8408; 1802-9973
• DOI: 10.33549/physiolres.930686

In this study we investigated the effect of beta-glucan derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on fungicidal activity, cytokine production and natural killer activity. Spleen and peritoneal cells from female C57BL/6 mice, previously injected (24 or 48 h) with 20 or 100 microg of glucan by i.p. route, were assayed. In vivo beta-glucan administration primed spleen cells for a higher production of IL-12 and TNF-alpha when S. aureus was used as a stimulus. In addition, beta-glucan increased NK spleen cells activity against YAC target cells. Some immunomodulatory activities not yet described for beta-glucan were observed in this work.