IngentaConnect Effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight -1, 3-D-glucan (bra...

Authors: Kimura, Yoshiyuki¹; Sumiyoshi, Maho²; Suzuki, Takahiro³; Suzuki, Toshio³; Sakanaka, Masahiro²

Source: Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Volume 59, Number 8, August 2007 , pp. 1137-1144(8)

Abstract:

It is well known that different stress paradigms are able to rapidly induce corticosterone production and immune function through the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. It has been reported that glucocorticoids suppress natural killer (NK) activity and interleukin (IL)-1 production and, on the other hand, that IL-1 and IL-6 stimulate the release of corticotrophin-releasing-hormone from the rat hypothalamus. Moreover, it has been reported that IL-12 plays a central role in the initiation of cell-mediated immunity, directly and via its induction of interferon (IFN)-γ and activation of NK cells. In this study, we examined the effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight β-glucan isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans 1A1 strain on the corticosterone levels and immune function, such as NK activity and IL-6 and IL-12 production, using a restraint stress-induced mouse model. The water-soluble low-molecular-weight β-glucan at a dose of 50 or 100 mg kg^-1 inhibited the increases in the blood corticosterone level and the reduction of NK activity induced by restraint stress. Furthermore, the water-soluble low-molecular-weight β-glucan (100 mg kg^-1) prevented the reduction of IL-6 and IL-12 production by splenocytes caused by restraint stress. These findings suggest that the inhibitory actions of water-soluble low-molecular-weight β-glucan on the increase in corticosterone level and reduction of NK activity induced by restraint stress may be associated with the abrogation of the IL-6 and IL-12 reduction caused by the stress. Thus, water-soluble low-molecularweight β-glucan may be an effective dietary supplement for the prevention of stress.

Document Type: Review article

DOI: 10.1211/jpp.59.8.0012

Affiliations: 1: Division of Biochemical Pharmacology, Department of Basic Medical Research, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon City, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. yokim@m.ehime-u.ac.jp 2: Division of Functional Histology, Department of Functional Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime University, Shitsukawa, Toon City, Ehime 791-0295, Japan 3: Research and Development, Daiso Co. Ltd. Amagasaki City, Hyogo 660-0842, Japan

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$38.34 plus tax Refund Policy

Effects of water-soluble low-molecular-weight β-1, 3-D-glucan (branch β-1, 6) isolated from Aureobasidium pullulans 1A1 strain black yeast on restraint stress in mice