High-level TNF-α Secretion and Macrophage Activity with Soluble β-Glucans fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract

We have previously reported that water-soluble beta-glucan completely devoid of mannoprotein and purified from the yeast cell wall effectively stimulated the macrophage function (Biosci. Biotechnol., Biochem., 65, 4, 837-841 (2001)). In this present study, to increase the yield of water-soluble beta-glucan, the wild type of Sacharomyces cerevisiae, JH, was treated with a combination of UV irradiation and laminarinase (endo-beta-(1,3)-glucanase) to yield the laminarinase-resistant mutants, JUL1 and JUL3. Water-soluble beta-glucans that were free of mannoprotein from JH, JUL1 and JUL3 were purified and their effects on TNF-alpha secretion and phagocytosis by macrophages were evaluated. Crude beta-glucan was first solubilized from the yeast cell wall by alkaline extraction and then subjected to an acid treatment. The residual mannoprotein was completely removed by DEAE and ConA chromatography. The yield of water-soluble beta-glucan in both mutants (JUL1, 5.11%; JUL3, 5.76%) was about 5-fold higher than that of the wild type (1.16%). The water-soluble beta-glucan from JH induced TNF-alpha secretion slightly more than that from JUL1 or JUL3: TNF-alpha secretion by JH at 50, 200, 500 microg/ml of beta-glucan was 11-17% more than that by JUL1 or JUL3 for the same treatment. Beta-glucan from the wild type stimulated phagocytosis slightly more than that from the mutants. These mutants could therefore effectively produce purified water-soluble beta-glucan with immune activity.

Adjunctive Systemic Use of Beta-Glucan in the Nonsurgical Treatment of Chronic Periodontitis

“…-glucan stimulates macrophage phagocytosis (Lee et al, 2002) and changes the balance from immunglobulin G1 antibodies (T helper 2 dependent antibody subclasses) towards a T helper 1 dependent immunglobulin G2a response (Suzuki et al, 2001). It also stimulates the production of T helper 1-stimulating cytokine interferon-but suppresses interleukin-4 which induces T helper 2 responses (Inoue et al, 2002).…”

Protective effects of betaglucin on myocardial tissue during myocardial infarction in rats and dogs

“…Recently, some β-glucans with relatively low molecular weight have been prepared. Beta-glucans with similar weights have similar functions [9][10][11][12] . One study has shown that glucan phosphate, a relatively low-molecular-weight β-glucan (molecular weight: 150 000), exerts cardioprotective effects by modulating Toll-like-receptor-mediated signaling [8] .…”

“…Beta-glucans with intermediate or low molecular weights (such as glucan phosphate) can be used for the treatment of ischemic diseases [8] , and their effect on the immune system is reduced. Finally, β-glucans with very low molecular weights (<5000-10 000, such as laminarin) are generally considered inactive [11,12] .…”

Evasion of Innate Immune Responses: Evidence for Mannose Binding Lectin Inhibition of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Production by Macrophages in Response toBlastomyces dermatitidis

“…Since the cell wall of B. dermatitidis contains ␤-1,3-glucan (10, 24) and ␣-1,3-glucan (15), these glucans are more likely to be ligands or components of ligand sites for the carbohydratebinding domain of MBL than is surface protein antigen A (36), also known as WI-1 (19) We and others (20,21) have shown that 1,3-␤-glucan stimulates prominent production of TNF-␣ by macrophages. Here we report that TNF-␣ production by macrophages plus 1,3-␤-glucan is inhibited in the presence of MS.…”