Down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor-α, moderate reduction of interleukin-1β, but not interleukin-6 or interleukin-10, by glucan immunomodulators curdlan sulfate and lentinan

The effects of glucan-based immunomodulators curdlan sulfate (CRDS) and lentinan on cytokine production stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-primed mice were investigated. Pretreatment with CRDS or lentinan before LPS administration induced a striking inhibition of up to 89% of circulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), a moderate reduction of 25% of interleukin (IL)-1 beta, no significant differences in IL-6 or IL-10 levels, and a marked depression of chemiluminescence activity. Animals receiving CRDS prior to infection with alpha-hemolysin positive Escherichia coli inhibited measurable TNF production by 63%. The ability of CRDS and lentinan to significantly reduce the TNF production in vivo indicates the potential of glucans in possible therapeutic strategies that are based on down-regulation of TNF. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of the International Society for Immunopharmacology.