Anti-allergic effect of low molecular weight beta-glucan prepared by lambda-irradiation

Abstract

This study evaluated the anti-allergic effect of low molecular weight beta-glucan (25 kDa) degraded by lambda-irradiation. Allergy was induced in mouse models administrated with lambda-irradiated low molecular weight and non-irradiated high molecular weight beta-glucan, respectively, for 7 days. However, only the mice treated with low molecular weight beta-glucan had a significantly decreased the total serum IgE and ovalbumin specific-IgE levels, and significantly increased Th 1 cytokine expression compared to only allergy induced mice. The allergic responses could be reduced by low molecular weight beta-glucan treated lambda-irradiation through the increased expression of Th 1 response and decreased expression of total IgE and antigen specific IgE.