Abstract

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 diphtheria toxoid (DT) on the systemic immune response to Aspergillus 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 of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 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.

Key words: Beta glucan; Fungal infection; IL21; sCD14; Toxoid.