laminaran and Neoplasm-Metastasis

Beta-1,3-glucans enhance immune reactions such as antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory, and wound healing activities. beta-1,3-Glucans have various functions depending on the molecular weight, degree of branching, conformation, water solubility, and intermolecular association. The molecular weight of the soluble glucan was about 15,000 as determined by a high-performance size exclusion chromatography. From the infrared (IR) and 13C NMR analytical data, the purified soluble glucan was found to exclusively consist of beta-D-glucopyranose with 1,3 linkage. We tested the immunestimulating activities of the soluble beta-1,3-glucan extracted from Agrobacterium sp. R259 KCTC 1019 and confirmed the following activities. IFN-gamma and each cytokines were induced in the spleens and thymus of mice treated with soluble beta-1,3-glucan. Adjuvant effect was observed on antibody production. Nitric oxide was synthesized in monocytic cell lines treated with beta-1,3-glucan. The cytotoxic and antitumor effects were observed on various cancer cell lines and ICR mice. These results strongly suggested that this soluble beta-1,3-glucan could be a good candidate for an immune-modulating agent.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Glucans; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Disease Models, Animal; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; Neoplasm Metastasis; Rhizobium; Solubility; Water

The purpose of this study was to investigate the combined antitumor effect of aminated beta-1,3-D-glucan (AG) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in an experimental liver metastasis model. Liver metastases were established by inoculation of C-26 colon carcinoma cells into the superior mesenteric vein of syngeneic mice. Treatment of mice started 24 hours after inoculation of tumor cells by daily intravenous injections of either AG, IFN-gamma, or a combination of both for a duration of 6 days. The resultant liver metastases were then quantified after an additional period of 11 days. Combination of IFN-gamma and AG inhibited the growth of liver metastases almost entirely. IFN-gamma was also very efficient, while AG alone did not exert any significant antitumor effect. These results, along with histological studies from mice receiving AG and IFN-gamma, indicated that activation and recruitment of liver macrophages may be a part of the mechanism responsible for the inhibition of metastatic growth observed in this study.

Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; beta-Glucans; Carcinoma; Colonic Neoplasms; Drug Synergism; Female; Glucans; Interferon-gamma; Liver Neoplasms; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neoplasm Metastasis; Recombinant Proteins