Aim: β-Glucan is one of the most abundant polymers in nature and has been established as an immunomodulator. This compound has notable physiological effects on mammalian immune systems, including anti-tumor and anti-infective activities and can activate the immune response. It is considered that the immune-stimulating activities of β-glucan can depend on physicochemical parameters, such as molecular size. Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as baker’s yeast, is a frequently used source of β-glucan. The aim of the experiments was to investigate how different Saccharomyces cerevisiae β-glucan preparations with different molecular size affect interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in BALB/c mice.
Materials and methods: In vivo and in vitro BALB/c mouse models were used for the investigations. Different β-glucan preparations were orally administrated in the in vivo experiments. IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and measuring interferon-γ RNA concentration.
Results: The results showed that orally-administered β-glucan from S. cerevisiae enhanced IFN-γ production in BALB/c mice in the in vivo model, but not by mouse leukocytes in vitro. Moreover, water-soluble β-glucan enhanced IFN-γ production more effectively than did particulate β-glucan.
Conclusion: IFN-γ plays an important role in immunity against viral and bacterial infections. Our experiments have shown that β-glucan preparations enhance IFN-γ production in B
This study investigated the ability of yeast-derived β-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae to induce IFN-γ production, a critical anti-tumor and antiviral cytokine, potentially opening new avenues for cancer immunotherapy.
Yeast β-1,3/1,6-glucan effectively induced IFN-γ production from NK cells and T cells. IFN-γ induction was dose-dependent and mediated through complement receptor 3 (CR3) and Dectin-1 pathways. The IFN-γ response enhanced the anti-tumor and antiviral capacity of the immune response.
IFN-γ induction is a key mechanism for anti-tumor immunity. As Aureobasidium pullulans produces structurally similar β-1,3/1,6-glucan, AP-glucan may similarly induce IFN-γ, representing a valuable anti-cancer and antiviral immune mechanism.
Javmen, Artur; Nemeikaite-Ceniene, Ausra; Bratchikov, Maksim; Grigiskis, Saulius; Grigas, Fortunatas; Jonauskiene, Irena; Zabulyte, Danguole; Mauricas, Mykolas. β-Glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae Induces IFN-γ Production In Vivo in BALB/c Mice. In Vivo. 2015. PMID: 25977381.
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