ACCELERATION OF NATURAL-KILLER (NK) CELL RECOVERY BY A GLUCAN, SIZOFIRAN, IN ANTI-ASIALOGM1 ANTIBODY-TREATED MICE

The proportion of asialoGM1 positive cells and NK activity of murine s plenic cells was reduced to almost zero one day after intravenous inje ction of rabbit anti-asialoGM1 antibody. The cells and the activity st arted to increase at the latest 3 days after the injection, although t he proportion was far below that of the normal control. The proportion of asialoGM1 positive cells and NK activity increased more remarkably when 1,3-beta glucan, sizofiran, was administered intramuscularly one day after the antibody injection. The increases were dose related (50 - 1 000 mug/mouse). The fact that sizofiran hastened the recoveries o f splenic NK activity and asialoGM1 positive cells suggests sizofiran may have the activity to accelerate the differentiation of asialoGM1 p ositive NK cells.