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Table of Contents > Abs + Ref
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Korean J Parasitol. 2009 Dec;47(4):345-351.
Published online 2009 December 01.  doi: 10.3347/kjp.2009.47.4.345.
Copyright © 2009 by The Korean Society for Parasitology
Aureobasidium-Derived Soluble Branched (1,3-1,6) β-Glucan (Sophy β-glucan) Enhances Natural Killer Activity in Leishmania amazonensis-Infected Mice
Lalani Yatawara,1 Susiji Wickramasinghe,1 Mitsuru Nagataki,1,2 Misa Takamoto,2 Haruka Nomura,1 Yasunori Ikeue,2 Yoshiya Watanabe,2 and Takeshi Agatsuma1
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Kochi Medical School, Oko, Nankoku City, Kochi 783-8505, Japan.
2Research and Development Division, Life Science Center, Sophy Incorporation, Agawa, Kochi 781-1522, Japan.

Corresponding author (Email: agatsuma@kochi-u.ac.jp )
Received September 05, 2008; Revised July 30, 2009; Accepted August 10, 2009.

Abstract

The β-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) β-glucan (Sophy β-glucan) was checked for natural killer (NK) activity and for the production of IFN-γ 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 β-glucan and infected with promastogotes of L. amazonensis (1 × 107) into the footpad. Increase in the footpad thickness with time was observed in BALB/c mice in spite of the oral Sophy β-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-γ 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 β-glucan enhances NK activity and cellular immunity in L. amazonensis-infected mice.

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