Maitake beta-glucan MD-fraction enhances bone marrow colony formation and reduces doxorubicin toxicity in vitro.

Abstract

Previous studies have indicated that MD-fraction (MDF), in which the active component is beta 1,6-glucan with beta 1,3-branches, has anti-tumor activity as an oral agent and acts as an immune adjuvant. Since some other beta glucans appear to promote mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells, the effects of a beta glucan extract from the Maitake mushroom "MD-fraction" on hematopoietic stem cells were examined in a colony forming assay. Here we report for the first time that MDF has a dose response effect on mouse bone marrow cells (BMC) hematopoiesis in vitro. Using the Colony Forming Unit (CFU) assay to detect formation of granulocyte-macrophage (CFU-GM) colonies, and the XTT cytotoxicitiy assay to measure BMC viability, the data showed that the addition of MDF significantly enhanced the development of CFU-GM in a dose range of 50-100 microg/ml (p<0.004). The mechanism of action included significant increase of nonadherent BMC viability, which was observed at MDF doses of 12.5-100 microg/ml (p<0.005). In the presence of Doxorubicin (DOX), MDF promoted BMC viability and protected CFU-GM from DOX induced toxicity. In addition, MDF treatment promoted the recovery of CFU-GM colony formation after BMC were pretreated with DOX. These studies provided the first evidence that MDF acts directly in a dose dependent manner on hematopoietic BMC and enhances BMC growth and differentiation into colony forming cells.

• Authors: Hong Lin, Yu-Hong She, Barrie R Cassileth, Frank Sirotnak, Susanna Cunningham Rundles
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 4 Issue 1 Pg. 91-9 (Jan 2004) ISSN: 1567-5769 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 14975363 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Adjuvants, Immunologic
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Tetrazolium Salts
• beta-Glucans
• 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-((phenylamino)carbonyl)-2H-tetrazolium hydroxide
• beta-1,6-glucan
• Doxorubicin
• beta-1,3-glucan

Topics

• Adjuvants, Immunologic (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Animals
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (adverse effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Cells, Cultured
• Colony-Forming Units Assay
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Doxorubicin (adverse effects)
• Female
• Grifola (chemistry)
• Hematopoietic Stem Cells (drug effects)
• Mice
• Tetrazolium Salts
• beta-Glucans (isolation & purification, pharmacology)