Glucan: mechanisms involved in its radioprotective effect

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Leukocyte Biol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6021085

Patchen, M L; D'Alesandro, M M; Brook, I; Blakely, W F; MacVittie, T J

It has generally been accepted that most biologically derived agents that are radioprotective in the hemopoietic-syndrome dose range (eg, endotoxin, Bacillus Calmette Guerin, Corynebacterium parvum, etc) exert their beneficial properties by enhancing hemopoietic recovery and hence, by regenerating the host's ability to resist life-threatening opportunistic infections. However, using glucan as a hemopoietic stimulant/radioprotectant, we have demonstrated that host resistance to opportunistic infection is enhanced in these mice even prior to the detection of significant hemopoietic regeneration. This early enhanced resistance to microbial invasion in glucan-treated irradiated mice could be correlated with enhanced and/or prolonged macrophage (but not granulocyte) function. These results suggest that early after irradiation glucan may mediate its radioprotection by enhancing resistance to microbial invasion via mechanisms not necessarily predicated on hemopoietic recovery. In addition, preliminary evidence suggests that glucan can also function as an effective free-radical scavenger. Because macrophages have been shown to selectively phagocytize and sequester glucan, the possibility that these specific cells may be protected by virtue of glucan's scavenging ability is also suggested.

• Research Organization: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Bethesda, MD
• OSTI ID: 6021085
• Journal Information: J. Leukocyte Biol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Leukocyte Biol.; (United States) Vol. 42:2; ISSN JLBIE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560152* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Animals
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BACTERIA
BODY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DRUGS
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
HYDROLASES
LUMINESCENCE
MACROPHAGES
MAMMALS
MICE
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEOTIDASES
PHAGOCYTES
PHAGOCYTOSIS
PHOSPHATASES
RADICALS
RADIOPROTECTIVE SUBSTANCES
RADIOSENSITIVITY EFFECTS
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES