Comparison of the effect of orally administered soluble beta-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan and of G-CSF on the recovery of murine hematopoiesis.

Beta-glucans are branched fungal polysaccharide compounds with pleiotropic activating effects on cells of the immune and the hematopoietic system. In this study, the hematopoiesis-promoting effect of an orally administered soluble beta-(1-3),(1-6)-D-glucan and of intravenously (i.v.) injected recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF/filgrastim) was tested in cyclophosphamide (CY)-conditioned mice. Both agents were administered for 5 consecutive days following treatment with CY. When G-CSF and the carbohydrate compound were co-administered, a small but non-significant increase of granulopoiesis compared to G-CSF alone was detected. beta-Glucan alone failed to augment granulopoiesis in the peripheral blood of CY-treated mice. However, both G-CSF and beta-glucan significantly enhanced the recovery of monocytes in the peripheral blood of leukopenic mice when orally administered as single agents. In conclusion, the present study provides further evidence of a stimulatory function of orally administered beta-glucans on monocyte production and shows a weak additive effect on granulopoiesis when co-administered with G-CSF into leukopenic mice.