Abstract
The main difference in chemical structure of (1 →3)-β-D-glucans from yeast cell wall and barley is the branching side chains. Yeast cell wall contains (1→3),(1→6)-β-D-glucans whereas barley contains (1→3),(1→4)-β-D-glucans. The purpose of this study was to compare adjuvant effects of two soluble beta-glucans from barley and yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in antigen specific humoral immune responses. In a conalbumin-immunized mouse model, mice were immunized by conalbumin at a relatively lower concentration (10 μg/mouse) in the presence of beta glucans. Anti-conalbumin antibodies in the serum specimens of immunized and control mice were quantified by ELISA.
At high doses, both glucans were effective in increasing circulating conalbumin-specific antibodies of IgM, IgG, and IgA types. However, 1 μg of â-glucan from barley resulted in lower yield in IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b, and IgGA levels in comparison to the yeast-derived glucan at the same dose. We also found that antigen specific antibody levels enhanced by the β-glucan from yeast were always higher than those of the glucan from barley.
In conclusion, yeast-derived glucans might have better immunomodulatory or adjuvat activity in induction of antigen specific humoral immune responses over barley-derived glucans.β
- Copyright © 2009 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc.
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