Cereal β-glucan immune modulating activity depends on the polymer fine structure

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cereal β-glucan immune modulating activity depends on the polymer fine structure

AU - Mikkelsen, Mette Skau

AU - Jespersen, Birthe P Møller

AU - Mehlsen, Anni

AU - Engelsen, Søren Balling

AU - Frøkiær, Hanne

PY - 2014/8

Y1 - 2014/8

N2 - Scope: The relationship between the immune modulatory properties of different mixed linkage β-glucans from plant and microbial origin and their physico-chemical properties is elusive. By the use of murine dendritic cells and multivariate data analysis, this study examines the importance of the physico-chemical characteristics of β-glucans for their capacity to modulate immune responses. Methods and results: A total of 23 different β-glucan samples characterised with respect to compositional, molecular, structural and rheological properties were investigated for their immune modulatory properties. Most of the β-glucans showed a decrease in the LPS induced IL-12 production and an increase in the LPS induced IL-10 levels in dendritic cells. When the dendritic cells were stimulated with the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, the β-glucans up-regulate the IL-12 production but showed no effect on the IL-10 levels. The modulation of the cytokine responses was shown to depend on the β-glucan block structure as expressed by the ratio of cellotriosyl to cellotetraosyl units in the molecule as well as the polymer solubility and aggregation in solution. Conclusion: This comparative study reveals that the β-glucan fine structure and in turn the intermolecular organisation in solution are key factors that determine their immune modulatory capacity.

AB - Scope: The relationship between the immune modulatory properties of different mixed linkage β-glucans from plant and microbial origin and their physico-chemical properties is elusive. By the use of murine dendritic cells and multivariate data analysis, this study examines the importance of the physico-chemical characteristics of β-glucans for their capacity to modulate immune responses. Methods and results: A total of 23 different β-glucan samples characterised with respect to compositional, molecular, structural and rheological properties were investigated for their immune modulatory properties. Most of the β-glucans showed a decrease in the LPS induced IL-12 production and an increase in the LPS induced IL-10 levels in dendritic cells. When the dendritic cells were stimulated with the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, the β-glucans up-regulate the IL-12 production but showed no effect on the IL-10 levels. The modulation of the cytokine responses was shown to depend on the β-glucan block structure as expressed by the ratio of cellotriosyl to cellotetraosyl units in the molecule as well as the polymer solubility and aggregation in solution. Conclusion: This comparative study reveals that the β-glucan fine structure and in turn the intermolecular organisation in solution are key factors that determine their immune modulatory capacity.

U2 - 10.1016/j.foodres.2014.04.021

DO - 10.1016/j.foodres.2014.04.021

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0963-9969

VL - 62

SP - 829

EP - 836

JO - Food Research International

JF - Food Research International

ER -