The solubilization and biological activities of Aspergillus β-(1→3)-D-glucan

We have recently demonstrated that the cell wall P-glucan of Candida albicans could be solubilized by sodium hypochlorite, followed by dimethylsulfoxide-extraction (NaClO-DMSO method). In this study, applying this method to Aspergillus spp., we prepared mycelial cell wall P-glucan and examined its physical properties and immuno toxicological activity. The acetone-dried mycelia of Aspergillus spp. were oxidized by the NaClO-DMSO method. An analysis of C-13 NMR spectra revealed the preparations to be composed of alpha-(1 --> 3) and beta-(1 --> 3)-D-glucan. Also, the proportion of alpha-(1 --> 3) and beta-(1 --> 3)-D-glucan varied. Futhermore, a solubilized Aspergillus beta-glucan (ASBG) was prepared from OX-Asp by urea-autocalve treatment. ASBG showed limulus activity similar to Candida solubilized beta-glucan (CSBG), and there was little difference in the activity of ASBG between various Aspergillus spp. ASBG affected the production of IL-8 by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). ASBG should be useful for analyzing the clinical role of beta-glucan. (C) 2004 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.