Down-modulation of lymphoproliferation and interferon-γ production by β-glucan derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae

beta-glucan, one of the major cell wall components of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, has been found to enhance immune functions. This study investigated in vivo and in vitro effects of P-glucan on lymphoproliferation and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by splenic cells from C57BL/6female mice. All experiments were performed with particulate beta- glucan derived from S. cerevisiae. Data demonstrated that both, i.p administration of particulate beta-glucan (20 or 100 mug/animal) and in vitro stimulation of splenic cells (20 or 100 mug/ml of culture) decreased lymphoproliferation and IFN-gamma production induced by concanavalin A. These results suggest that beta-glucan can trigger a down-modulatory effect regulating a deleterious immune system hyperactivity in the presence of a strong stimulus.