(1→3)-β-D-Glucans are carbohydrate polymers that are present in the cell wall of various fungi and bacteria; they are pathogen associated molecular patterns that circulate during infection and modulate immunity. Our laboratory has previously established the pharmacokinetics of intravenously and orally administered glucans; the present studies investigated the renal excretion of (1→3)-β-D-glucans following intravenous and oral administration. Three fluorescently-labeled glucans were administered to adult male rats in the presence or absence of toxic challenge. Urine specimens were collected and analyzed by fluorescence spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and GPC/MALLS. 71 ± 3% of fluorescence remained in the >5K MWCO fraction; this fraction showed a minor peak with a molecular mass (171 ± 11K) corresponding to injected glucan (~150K). Most excreted glucans were of lower molecular mass (13 ± 8.5K), indicating most (1→3)-β-D-glucans are excreted by the kidneys as smaller polysaccharides. The presence of urinary glucans may be an important indicator of fungal infection.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-3354 |
| Date | 13 December 2008 |
| Creators | Head, Debra K |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | Electronic Theses and Dissertations |
| Rights | Copyright by the authors. |
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