Augmentation of IL-21 and soluble CD14 in systemic aspergillosis through combined immunostimulation with beta-glucan and diphtheria toxoid.

BACKGROUND

Aspergillus fumigatus leads to serious systemic infections in immunocompromised patients, thereby emphasizing the need for novel immunomodulatory therapies acting on both innate (sCD14) and adaptive (IL-21) immune systems. Beta-glucans are established fungal immunomodulators, and diphtheria toxoid (DT) has non-specific stimulatory activity.

AIM: This experiment determined the effects of beta-glucan, biphasic beta-glucan, and DT on the systemic immune response to A. fumigatus beta-glucan, DT, and a combination of both.

METHODS

It was done on 50 male albino rats, and they were then subjected to a systemic injection of A. fumigatus challenge. Serum IL-21 and soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels were measured on day 21 using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant increase in IL-21 and sCD14 levels in the beta-glucan group compared with those in the control group. Nevertheless, the beta-glucan + DT group had the most potent effect, with an increase in both markers.

CONCLUSION

The combination of beta-glucan and diphtheria toxoid provides a potent immunomodulatory regimen that boosts innate (sCD14) and adaptive (IL-21) immune pathways and enhances host defense against systemic fungal infection.