Immunoenhancing Effects of on a Cyclophosphamide-Induced Immunosuppressive Mouse Model.

In this study, the effects of the immune stimulator (Euglena) in cyclophosphamide (CCP)-induced immunocompromised mice were assessed. The key component β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) constitutes 50% of . Mice were orally administered powder (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or β-glucan powder (250 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days. In a preliminary immunology experiment, ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg of CCP/kg B.W. during the final 3 consecutive days. In the main experiment, BALB/c mice were treated with CCP for the final 5 days. To evaluate the enhancing effects of on the immune system, mouse B.W., the spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression in splenocytes lungs and livers were determined. To detect cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with 5 μg/ml concanavalin A or 1 μg/ml lipopolysaccharide. The B.W. and spleen index were significantly increased and NK cell activity was slightly enhanced in all the experimental groups compared to the CCP group. In splenocytes, the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-12 receptor were increased in the and β-glucan groups compared to the CCP group, but there was no significant difference. Treatment with 500mg of /kg B.W. significantly upregulated dectin-1 mRNA expression in the lung and liver compared to the CCP group. These results suggest that may enhance the immune system by strengthening innate immunity through immunosuppression.