J Interferon Cytokine Res. 2002 Dec; 22(12): 1227-39.

IFN-gamma induction by SCG, 1,3-beta-D-glucan from Sparassis crispa, in DBA/2 mice in vitro.

Harada T, Miura NN, Adachi Y, Nakajima M, Yadomae T, Ohno N.

Laboratory for Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, School of Pharmacy, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan.

Sparassis crispa Fr. in an edible mushroom recently cultivable in Japan. A branched beta-glucan from S. crispa (SCG) is a major 6-branched 1,3-beta-D-glucan showing antitumor activity. In this study, we examined interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induction by SCG from splenocytes in DBA/2 mice in vitro. In the splenocytes derived from almost all inbred strains of mice except for DBA/1 and DBA/2 mice, IFN-gamma production was not induced by SCG. The breeder and genders of DBA/2 mice showed no influence on IFN-gamma induction by SCG. On the other hand, the magnitude of IFN-gamma induction was lower in young mice than in their older counterparts. IFN-gamma was induced by SCG in adherent splenocytes, but IFN-gamma production was most significantly increased by SCG in instances involving coexistence of adherent and nonadherent splenocytes. In fact, inhibition of cell-cell contact reduced IFN-gamma induction by SCG. In addition, interleukin-12 p70 (IL-12p70) was induced by SCG in DBA/2 mice. It was suggested that soluble factors and cell-cell contact mediate synergistic effects on SCG-induced IFN-gamma production.