Immunologic Response to (1,4)‐α‐D‐Glucan in the Lung and Spleen of Endotoxin‐Stimulated Rats

Abstract

We investigated the effects of (1,4)‐α‐D‐glucan (α‐DG), a novel immune stimulator drug from Tinospora cordifolia, on pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines balance in the lung and spleen of endotoxin‐stimulated rats. Experimental groups (n=16/group) included, controls with an intraperitoneal injection of saline, endotoxemic rats with a non‐lethal dose of 10 mg/kg E‐coli endotoxin, and rats treated with two doses of 10mg/kg α‐DG, intraperitoneally, at 2 and 4‐h after endotoxin injection. A 24‐h after saline/endotoxin injection rats were euthanized and the lung and spleen were removed for cytokine profiling. Endotoxemia increased IL‐1β concentration by about 5‐fold in both organs. The lung and spleen showed different responses to endotoxemia. In the lung, α‐DG treatment created approximately 30% (p>0.05), 43% and 46% (p<0.01) reductions in IL‐1β, IL‐6, and INF‐γ concentration, respectively, as compared to endotoxemia (ANOVA followed by Tukey‐Kramer test). In the spleen, the ratio of IL‐1βto IL‐10 concentration was reduced from 89 to 49 (55%; p<0.05), demonstrating an anti‐inflammatory trend at the 24‐h of the study (p<0.05). These data suggest that α‐DG influences the pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokine balance in the lung and spleen during early endotoxemia.