Suppression of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by soluble β-glucan due to a failure of PKC-βII translocation.

If apoptotic cells are not removed efficiently, they may proceed to the stage of secondary necrosis, which would cause inflammation. Therefore, identification of cause(s) and agent(s) for down-modulating phagocytosis of apoptotic cells would help understand the pathologies. In this study we found that macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells was suppressed by both soluble and particulate β-glucan.