Anti-tumor effects of (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in S180 tumor-bearing mice

(1 → 3)-β-d-Glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a typical polysaccharide with various biological effects and is considered a candidate for the prevention and treatment of cancer in vitro. Research into the function of (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan in tumor-bearing animals in vivo, however, is limited. Here, we investigated the effects of (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan from S. cerevisiae on S180 tumor-bearing mice and on the immunity of the tumor-bearing host. The molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects were investigated. (1 → 3)-β-d-Glucan was shown to exert anti-tumor effects without toxicity in normal mouse cells. The volume and weight of S180 tumors decreased dramatically following treatment with (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan, and treatment with the polysaccharide was furthermore shown to increase the tumor inhibition rate in a dose-dependent manner. Spleen index, T lymphocyte subsets (CD4 and CD8), as well as interleukins (IL)-2, (IL-2, IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α were assayed to detect the immunoregulatory and anti-tumor effects after (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan intragastrical administration. (1 → 3)-β-d-Glucan was shown to significantly potentiate the mouse immune responses by, among other effects, decreasing the ratio of CD4 to CD8. The expression levels of IL-2, IL-6, and TNF-α were also significantly increased by (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan. These results suggest that (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan enhances the host's immune function during the tumor inhibition process. S180 tumor cells treated with (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan also exhibited significant apoptotic characteristics. (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan increased the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 at the translation level by up-regulating Bax expression and down-regulating Bcl-2 expression, resulting in the initiation of cell apoptosis in S180 tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, these results indicate that the anti-tumor effects exerted by (1 → 3)-β-d-glucan may be attributed to the polysaccharide's immunostimulating properties and apoptosis-inducing features. Further investigation into these properties and their associated mechanisms will contribute to the development of potent polysaccharide-based anti-tumor agents.