Abstract
Immu-Forte composed of chitosan, ${\beta}-glucan$, manno-oligosaccharide and pangamic acid was evaluated for its effectiveness as a nonspecific immunostimulator in mice. The effects of Immu-Forte were determined by analysis of cytokines using ELISA and phenotype of leukocyte subpopulations using monoclonal antibodies specific to mouse leukocyte differentiation antigens and flow cytometry. All T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in Immu-Forte A-treated group increased in 1 months posttreatment and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. All T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages and IL-2 in Immu-Forte EX-treated low and middle dose groups increased in 1 months posttreatment and were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. In the Immu-Forte soybean-treated group, NK cells and IL-4 were significantly higher in middle dose-treated group, and IL-2, IL-4 and IFN-r were significantly higher in low dose-treated group. In the Immu-Forte F-treated group, all T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, NK cells, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in high dose-treated group and all T cells, all B cells, CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, macrophages, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in middle dose-treated group and NK cells, IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IFN-r in low dose-treated group were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of control at 1 months posttreatment. In conclusion, this study has demonstrated that Immu-Forte had an immunostimulatory effect on mice through proliferation and activation of mouse immune cells.
