Down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, moderate reduction of interleukin-1β, but not interleukin-6 or interleukin-10, by glucan immunomodulators curdlan sulfate and lentinan

• Published in: International journal of immunopharmacology 1997-09, Vol.19 (9), p.463-468
• Main Authors: Noel Masihi, K., Madaj, Katja, Hintelmann, Henny, Gast, Gerd, Kaneko, Yutaro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: BCG; Biological and medical sciences; curdlan sulfate; Escherichia coli; glucan; immunomodulator; Immunomodulators; interleukin-1; interleukin-10; interleukin-6; lentinan; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; tumor necrosis factor
• ISSN: 0192-0561; 1879-3495
• DOI: 10.1016/S0192-0561(97)00056-8

The effects of glucan-based immunomodulators curdlan sulfate (CRDS) and lentinan on cytokine production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-primed mice were investigated. Pretreatment with CRDS or lentinan before LPS administration induced a striking inhibition of up to 89% of circulating tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), a moderate reduction of 25% of interleukin (IL)-lβ, no significant differences in IL-6 or IL-10 levels, and a marked depression of chemiluminescence activity. Animals receiving CRDS prior to infection with α-hemolysin positive Escherichia coli inhibited measurable TNF production by 63%. The ability of CRDS and lentinan to significantly reduce the TNF production in vivo indicates the potential of glucans in possible therapeutic strategies that are based on down-regulation of TNF.