ABSTRACT
The polyglucose 1→3-β-D-glucan is a major structural component of the cell wall of yeast and fungi. We have studied the adjuvant activity of different β-glucans on the response to the model allergen ovalbumin (OA), using the popliteal lymph node (PLN) assay in Balb/c mice. The adjuvant activity on local cellular response was determined by measuring the weight, cell number, and proliferation of the extracted PLNs. The levels of OA-specific IgE, IgG1 (Th2 response) and IgG2a (Th1 response) in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Taken together, our results show that whereas β-glucan had little effect on the local
inflammatory response, it revealed a strong adjuvant activity on the systemic allergic immune response in a mouse model. This supports the reported observations that inhaled β-1,3-glucan is an enhancer and inducer of allergic disease in man.
