The role of PI3K/Akt pathway in beta-glucan-induced dendritic cell maturation.

摘要

Fungal beta-glucans have been well known for its medicinal implications including immune stimulation, wound healing, hypo-cholesterolemic effects and treatment of diabetes [1], We read with great interest the paper entitled "Induction of dendritic cell maturation by p-glucan isolated from Sparassis crispa" by Kim et al. in your journal [2], In the paper, it is shown that fi-glucan from Sparassis crispa can induce the maturation of dendritic cells which is important in the immune system to bridge innate immune and adaptive immune [3,4]. Other studies have also shown that fungal beta-glucan can activate DC [1]. However, the mechanism how p-glucan activates DC remains unclear. Kim et al.'s study found that TLR4 and its downstream MAPK and NF-kB are important mediators for beta-glucan to activate DC. We think that other signal pathways may also involve in the regulation of DC maturation induced by beta-glucan because beta-glucan has been shown to bind to many other receptors such as dectin-1 and CR3 to activate multiple signal pathways [1]. These receptors can activate PI3K/Akt pathway which regulates DC maturation [1,5,6], It will be interesting to know if the PI3K/Akt pathway is also important in beta-glucan stimulated maturation of DC.