TNF-alpha production induced from human monocytes by beta-1,3-glucan oligomer.

2003 JUN 5 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A beta-1,3-glucan oligomer from laminarin induces tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production from human peripheral blood monocytes, Nagasaki University scientists demonstrated.

"We prepared a beta-1,3-glucan oligomer (DP greater than or equal to4) from laminarin (DP: 25-30) derived from Laminaria digitata with beta-1,3-glucanase, and examined its effect on human peripheral blood monocytes," said N. Miyanishi and colleagues.

"Conditioned medium prepared by incubating monocytes (MC-CM) with the beta-1,3-glucan oligomer showed strong inhibitory activity against the proliferation of human leukemic U937 cells," they …