[#1989-02] Modulation of Antitumor Activity of Grifolan by Subsequent Administration of (1–>3)-β-D-Glucanase in Vivo, I. Nono et al.

Modulation of Antitumor Activity of Grifolan by Subsequent Administration of (1–>3)-β-D-Glucanase in Vivo

Isao NONO, Naohito OHNO,* Masumi OHSAWA, Shozo OIKAWA and Toshiro YADOMAE

Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, Tokyo College of Pharmacy,  Horinouchi,Hachioji, Tokyo, 192-03, Japan and Nippon Beet Sugar Mfg., Co., Ltd.,  Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104, Japan

The initiation process of effector mechanism of the antitumor activity of (1–>3)-β-D-glucans has been examined in detail by applying treatment of mice with (1–>3)-β-D-glucanases, kitalase (KIT) and zymolyase (ZYM), via i.p. route after i.p. administration of (1–>3)-β-D-glucans, grifolan (GRN) and CM-curdlan (CM-CUD). A significant decrease of antitumor activity caused by GRN was ob­served by treatment with KIT within 48 h, and that caused by GRN administered via i.v. route was also reduced by the i.v. injection of KIT, although it was less effective than i.p. treatment. Pretreatment of mice with thioglycollate reduced the period of time to abrogate antitumor activity by the sequential treatment of KIT. Similar results were also observed on ZYM treatment after i.p. treatment of CM-CUD. These facts suggest that the period of manifestation of the antitumor activity by (1–>3)-β-D-glucans must he longer than a few days.