Reduction in myocardial fibrosis in MDX mice on oral consumption of Aureobasidium Pullulans produced Neu REFIX Beta-glucans; holds potential as an adjuvant in managing post-transplantation organ fibrosis

Abstract

Organ fibrosis is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Though fibrosis in genetic diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) may be attributed to the genetic defect, chronic microinflammation remains a key mechanism underlying such fibrosis, which also precedes both other organ fibrosis and post-organ transplant fibrosis. Having proven the anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic effects of Beta-1,3-1,6-glucan (Neu-REFIX) produced by N-163 strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans in earlier clinical and pre-clinical studies, we performed the current study to evaluate its effects on myocardial fibrosis. N-163 beta-glucan was administered to 45 mice in three groups, each fifteen animals, Gr. 1, normal mice, Gr.2, mdx mice as vehicle, Gr.3, mdx mice which were administered Neu REFIX beta-glucan orally. Evaluation of Collagen Type I (Col-I) in myocardium was performed by immunohistochemistry. Percentage of myocardium Col-I positive area of 6.42 {+/-} 2.67 significantly decreased in the Neu-REFIX group (4.32 {+/-} 1.78) (p-value < 0.01). As myocardial fibrosis has been shown to be reduced following treatment with N-163 beta glucan in a genetic, muscle structure anomaly disease such as DMD, in addition to adding value to DMD patients, in whom myocardial failure occurs in the advanced stages leading to pre-mature death, Neu-REFIX beta-glucan adjuvant treatment in the setting of solid organ transplantation may be of value to reduce the incidence of fibrosis which is a known feature of chronic allograft rejection leading to graft loss.