RESUMO
BACKGROUND: ß-d-Glucans are polysaccharides found in the cell walls of yeasts, such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and they have been studied because of their beneficial effects on health, mainly in terms of immunomodulation. However, information on the action of these polymers on vascular and platelet function is still scarce. This study evaluate the effect of (1â3) (1â6) ß-d-glucan (ßG-Sc) and its carboxymethylated derivative (CM-G) on vascular and platelet function in rats. METHODS: The animals received daily oral treatments with ßG-Sc (20mg/kg) and CM-G (20mg/kg) for eight days. Next, cytokine quantification, vascular reactivity and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation studies were performed. In vitro platelet aggregation and P-selectin exposition assays were conducted using 100 and 300µg/mL CM-G. RESULTS: The CM-G-treated group had less IL-8 than did the control. In reactivity experiments, CM-G and ßG-Sc treatments did not change the contractile response of the vessel induced by PHE. Moreover, only CM-G improved the vasorelaxation response to Nitroprusside (SPN, a nitric oxide donor). The in vitro aggregation studies showed that at the highest concentration (300µg/mL), CM-G inhibited the agonist-induced platelet aggregation with an effect similar to that of acetylsalicylic acid and without affecting P-selectin exposition. The treatments with ßG-Sc or CM-G inhibited the platelet aggregation stimulated by ADP, but only ßG-Sc treatment was effective in affect the collagen-stimulated aggregation. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that CM-G modulate positively the vascular function, mainly in responses NO-dependent. CM-G and ßG-Sc have an anti-aggregation effect, being CM-G more selective to ADP-induced platelet aggregation.