THE IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECT OF THE SOLUBLE FUNGAL GLUCAN (PLEUROTUS-OSTREATUS) ON DELAYED-HYPERSENSITIVITY AND PHAGOCYTIC ABILITY OF BLOOD LEUKOCYTES IN MICE

The effect of fungal and yeast glucan on different immune functions in mice was examined and compared. The simultaneous administration of gl ucan and a sensitizing dose of DNFB on the different sites significant ly stimulated delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response only when u sing fungal glucan. Both glucans tested, when administered before sens itization, significantly increased DTH response, but with a significan tly higher level at,the beginning of the investigation (on day 7) when using fungal glucan. The increase in phagocytic activity by the blood leucocytes started in the 1st week after fungal-glucan treatment, and in the 2nd week after yeast-glucan treatment, and took longer after a dministration of fungal glucan. The values of the phagocytic-activity index were significantly influenced only after fungal-glucan injection . The results of the study indicate that fungal glucan isolated from P leurotus ostreatus could be a prospective immunomodulating substance.