Open AccessEnhanced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase by β‐glucans in mice
Author(s) -
Hashimoto Tomoe,
Ohno Naohito,
Adachi Yoshiyuki,
Yadomae Toshiro
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1997.tb01082.x
Subject(s) - nitric oxide , in vivo , nitric oxide synthase , in vitro , biology , biochemistry , cytokine , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , endocrinology
We have already demonstrated that various activities including NO (nitric oxide) synthesis in vivo and in vitro significantly differ between triple helical (SPG) and single helical (alkaline‐treated SPG, SPG‐OH) β‐glucans. It was previously suggested that the single helical conformer of β‐glucan (SPG‐OH) was dominant in cytokine production and subsequent NO synthesis in vitro. In this study, we analyzed production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced by β‐glucans in vitro and in vivo. The iNOS production was enhanced in proteose peptone‐induced peritoneal macrophages (PMs) cultured with SPG‐OH in the presence of IFN‐γ for 24 h, and SPG‐OH‐induced PMs. Moreover, SPG‐OH was effective for iNOS production not only in isolated macrophages but also in tissue macrophages, whereas SPG was less effective. These findings suggest that a single helical conformer is essential for iNOS production, and that NO synthesis by β‐glucans is closely related to iNOS production.