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Changes in Leukocyte Populations Among Children Receiving a Follow‐on Cow's Milk‐Based Formula Containing Beta‐Glucan
Author(s) -
Sarvetnick Nora,
Murphy Kevin,
PauleyHunter Rosemary,
Scalabrin Deolinda
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.643.10
Subject(s) - immunophenotyping , cd8 , immune system , glucan , peripheral blood mononuclear cell , medicine , flow cytometry , immunology , beta glucan , t cell , andrology , biology , in vitro , biochemistry
Background β‐Glucan can enhance immune system responses to foreign agents, but mechanisms of action remain unknown. Objective We examined changes in immune cell populations and activation markers produced by the addition of β‐Glucan to a children's follow‐on formula. Methods This was a double blinded, randomized, controlled, parallel‐designed, prospective study. Data is reported for participants who completed the study. Participants (1–4 years of age) received either a marketed, follow‐on formula (n=8), formula supplemented with 42 mg of β‐Glucan per serving (n=10), or formula with 6 × 10 9 colony forming units of LGG per serving (n=9), twice a day for a 3 week period. Flow cytometry was used to immunophenotype peripheral blood leukocytes. Thirty serum cytokines were measured via multiplex analysis. Changes from baseline were analyzed by Kruksal‐Wallis. As this was a pilot study, differences with p‐values < 0.10 were considered of interest. Results Participants who received β‐Glucan had decreased production of stem cell factor and decreased neutrophil proportions. They also had an increase in the ratio of immature‐to‐mature B cells. Finally, they had reduced CD4 T cell activation and an increase in specific subsets of CD8 T cells. Conclusion β‐Glucan promotes a complex pattern of activation and inhibition of distinct T and B cell subsets. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the effects of β‐Glucan on immune effects in healthy, young children.