Journal of Environmental Biology

Immunomodulatory activity of commercial β-glucan in

murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7

E.Y. Choi¹, J.Y. Jin¹, J.Y. Hyeon¹, S.H. Choe¹, B.R. Keum¹, J.M. Lim², D.C. Park², K.K. Cho³ and I.S. Choi¹*

¹Department of Life Science, Silla University, Busan, 46958, Republic of Korea

²Glucan Corporation, Busan Technopark, Marine Bioindustry Development Center, Busan, 46048, Republic of Korea

³Department of Animal Resources Technology, Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju, 52725, Republic of Korea

*Corresponding Author E-mail: ischoi@silla.ac.kr

Key words

β-glucan

Cytokine

Immunomodulation

Macrophages

Tumor necrosis factor

Publication Data

Paper received : 01.09.2016

Revised received : 23.03.2017?????????? Re-revised received : 08.08.2017

Accepted : 07.09.2017          

Abstract

Aim: β-glucan, a cell wall component of a variety of fungi, yeasts and bacteria, has a regulatory potential for various diseases such as infection and inflammation. The present study investigated the effects of β-glucan (polycan) on immune modulation in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells.

Methodology: As immune response parameters, production of nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-a, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were assessed. iNOS protein expression, phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), degradation of inhibitory κB-a (IκB-a), nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) subunits and phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3 were characterized via immunoblotting.

Results: Production of NO, TNF-a, IL-1β and IL-6 were meaningfully increased in β-glucan (polycan) treated RAW264.7 cells, along with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase, TNF-a, IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA at concentrations with no cytotoxicity. β-glucan (polycan) treatment also caused the NF-κB and phosphorylation of MAPKs, STAT1 and STAT3, showing β-glucan (polycan) activated macrophages through activation of NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways in RAW264.7 cells.    

Interpretation: These results reveal the therapeutic effects of β-glucan (polycan) may partly be due to its ability to modulate immune functions in macrophages.

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