Soluble β-1,3/1,6-glucan from yeast inhibits experimental periodontal disease in Wistar rats

• Published in: Journal of clinical periodontology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 347 - 352
• Main Authors: Breivik, Torbjørn, Opstad, Per Kristian, Engstad, Rolf, Gundersen, Glenn, Gjermo, Per, Preus, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Munksgaard International Publishers 01.04.2005
• Subjects: 3/1; 6-glucan; Alveolar Bone Loss - drug therapy; Alveolar Bone Loss - immunology; Animals; beta-Glucans - therapeutic use; Corticosterone - blood; cytokines; Dentistry; Glucans - therapeutic use; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis; Interleukin-10 - blood; Ligation; Lipopolysaccharides - administration & dosage; macrophages; Male; periodontal disease; Periodontal Diseases - drug therapy; Periodontal Diseases - immunology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Transforming Growth Factor beta - blood; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; β-1; β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan
• ISSN: 0303-6979; 1600-051X
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-051X.2005.00672.x

Objective: We have investigated whether a purified immunomodulatory water soluble β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan isolated from the cell wall of Bakers yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, would influence the progression of ligature‐induced periodontal disease, and to modulate accompanying cytokine and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis responses to a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Material and Methods: β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan (10 mg/kg/day) was given in the drinking water to Wistar rats during the entire experiment, starting 14 days before disease induction, while control rats were given tap water only. Periodontal disease was assessed when the ligatures had been in place for 35 days. Results: Orally administered soluble β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan significantly reduced periodontal bone loss as measured on digital X‐rays (p=0,026). Glucan‐treated rats also showed a significantly enhanced plasma level of the HPA axis‐driven hormone corticosterone (p=0.047), and of the cytokine transforming growth factor‐1β (p=0.032), as well as a tendency to enhanced IL‐10 (p=0.106), induced by intra‐peritoneally administered LPS. Conclusion: Soluble β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan administered by the oral route diminishes ligature‐induced periodontal bone loss in this model. This effect may be attributable to the well documented ability of β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan to stimulate macrophage phagocytosis and to skew the T helper (Th)1/Th2 balance towards Th1 and T regulatory responses. The HPA axis may play a significant role in β‐1,3/1,6‐glucan induced immune modulation.