Effect of SCG, 1,3-&beta;-<small>D</small>-Glucan from <i>Sparassis crispa</i> on the Hematopoietic Response in Cyclophosphamide Induced Leukopenic Mice

Abstract

The major side-effect of most anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs is neutropenia, and the administration of these drugs impairs blood-forming functions (e.g. the generation of neutrophils, NK cells, etc.) that are important to maintain the defense systems of the patients. As a result, chemotherapy may accelerate the risk of tumor metastases and fungal infection. Metastasis of tumor cells is a serious concern, causing deterioration in the condition of patients receiving cancer therapy.

Mechanism of Enhanced Hematopoietic Response by Soluble β‐Glucan SCG in Cyclophosphamide‐Treated Mice

“…In a previous study, we showed that the leukocyte recovery in CY-treated mice was different for different cell populations, such as granulocytes, macrophages, natural killer cells, B cells and T cells (11,30). These results suggested that cell population changes in CY-treated mice may have accounted in part for the differences of the pattern of induction among cytokines from the kinetic point of view.…”

“…These results indicated that the augmentation of these β-glucan receptors as well as GM-CSF was related to the enhancement of sensitivity to SCG in CYtreated mice. Previously we reported that enhancement of the hematopoietic response was shown by SCG administration after (day 1, 3, 5 or 7) the CY administration (11). The mechanism of the latter administration schedule would be related to the newly developed SCGresponding cell populations which expressed dectin-1 at a high level.…”

“…Fruit bodies of Sparassis crispa were cultured by Minahealth Co., Ltd. (Saitama, Japan). SCG was prepared as previously described (11). Briefly, air-dried and powdered S. crispa was extracted with cold alkali (10% NaOH/5% urea, 4 C, 2 days).…”

“…The effects of CY are paradoxical in this regard. In a previous study, we demonstrated that both oral and intraperitoneal administration of SCG enhanced the hematopoietic response in CY-induced leukopenia from a qualitative as well as quantitative point of view (11,30). Interleukin-6 production of splenocytes by CY-treated mice was enhanced by the addition of SCG, while cytokines were not induced by SCG in the splenocytes from control mice in vitro.…”

“…and oral (p.o.) routes over a wide range of concentrations (11,30), and the effect was augmented by combination with isoflavone aglycone (10). First, an experiment was performed to confirm the hematopoietic response induced by SCG in CY-induced leukopenia.…”