Abstract
Vitamin D and beta-glucans are both immunostimulants. Vitamin D exerts its beneficial effects on many components of the immune system. In macrophages, the hormone modulates both phagocytic activity and cytokine production; therefore, it plays an important role in mediating the innate immune response to infection. The immunomodulatory properties of beta-glucans are attributed to the ability of these fungal cell wall polysaccharides to bind to different receptors expressed on the cell surface of phagocytic and cytotoxic innate immune cells, including monocytes and macrophages. The intracellular signaling pathways activated by beta-glucans lead to enhanced phagocytosis and cytokine response. In this study we investigated the possible potentiation of immunomodulatory properties of the combined treatment with vitamin D and beta-glucans. The effects of 100 nM 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 or 100 µg/mL beta-glucans were evaluated in human macrophages in terms of cytokine production, intracellular vesicle acidification and changes in energy metabolism, three hallmarks of macrophage antimicrobial activation. We found that all the analyzed parameters were enhanced by the co-treatment compared to the response to single molecules. The results of this study support the validity of a novel therapeutic approach that could boost the immune response, taking advantage of the synergy between two natural compounds.
Highlights
IntroductionMacrophages are immune cells specialized in the phagocytosis and further digestion of pathogens, cellular debris, senescent and cancer cells as well as other foreign substances
Macrophages are immune cells specialized in the phagocytosis and further digestion of pathogens, cellular debris, senescent and cancer cells as well as other foreign substances.Given their innate immunity, they are involved in the immediate response and in the initiation of the induced response, recruiting lymphocytes through the release of a specific set of chemokines and cytokines [1]
pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are recognized by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), receptors expressed on the surface of macrophages [1]
Summary
Macrophages are immune cells specialized in the phagocytosis and further digestion of pathogens, cellular debris, senescent and cancer cells as well as other foreign substances Given their innate immunity, they are involved in the immediate response and in the initiation of the induced response, recruiting lymphocytes through the release of a specific set of chemokines and cytokines [1]. They are involved in the immediate response and in the initiation of the induced response, recruiting lymphocytes through the release of a specific set of chemokines and cytokines [1] These two classes of molecules act as chemoattractants and are produced and secreted to recruit other cells of the innate and adaptive immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are PRRs involved in the binding of microbial moieties and in triggering the further signaling through several intracellular pathways
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