Combined beta-glucan with anti-tumor mAb therapy has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in murine tumor models. The current study was designed to compare the therapeutic efficacy of various sources of beta-glucans. Our studies demonstrated that yeast beta-glucan, in combination with anti-tumor mAb, resulted in significantly smaller tumor burdens and achieved enhanced long-term survival compared ...

The impact of beta-glucan molecular weight (MW) on in vitro bile-acid binding and in vitro fermentation with human fecal flora was evaluated. beta-Glucan extracted from oat line 'N979-5-4' was treated with lichenase (1,3-1,4-beta-D-glucanase) to yield high (6.87x10(5) g/mol), medium (3.71x10(5) g/mol), and low (1.56x10(5) g/mol) MW fractions. The low MW beta-glucan bound more bile acid than did...

In this study we investigated the effect of beta-glucan derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on fungicidal activity, cytokine production and natural killer activity. Spleen and peritoneal cells from female C57BL/6 mice, previously injected (24 or 48 h) with 20 or 100 microg of glucan by i.p. route, were assayed. In vivo beta-glucan administration primed spleen cells for a higher production of ...

BACKGROUND An increase in gastrointestinal viscosity or colonic fermentation is suggested to improve appetite control and reduce food intake. It has been proposed that beta-glucan and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) are food ingredients that increase gastrointestinal viscosity and colonic fermentation, but the results are inconclusive. OBJECTIVE The objective was to test the effect of FOS, beta-g...

beta-1,6-Glucan plays a key structural role in the yeast cell wall. Of the genes involved in its biosynthesis, the activity of Cwh41p is known, i.e., the glucosidase I enzyme of protein N-chain glucose processing. We therefore examined the effects of N-chain glucosylation and processing mutants on beta-1,6-glucan biosynthesis and show that incomplete N-chain glucose processing results in a loss...

BACKGROUND Moulds are present in a variety of environments and aerosols of fungal spores are generated when mouldy materials are handled. Molds contain (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan, a polyglucose which is present in the cell wall of fungi, certain bacteria and plants. AIM This study was undertaken to investigate the cellular inflammatory response in the lung after inhalation of (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan...

The ability of legumes to recognize and respond to beta-glucan elicitors by synthesizing phytoalexins is consistent with the existence of a membrane-bound beta-glucan-binding site. Related proteins of approximately 75 kDa and the corresponding mRNAs were detected in various species of legumes which respond to beta-glucans. The cDNAs for the beta-glucan-binding proteins of bean and soybean were ...

Associations between house dust-associated beta-(1,3)-glucan exposure and airway inflammatory reactions have been reported, while such exposures in early childhood have been suggested to protect against asthma and wheezing. Most epidemiological studies have used reservoir dust samples and an inhibition enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for beta-(1,3)-glucan exposure assessment. The objective of this stu...

Antitumor mAb bind to tumors and activate complement, coating tumors with iC3b. Intravenously administered yeast beta-1,3;1,6-glucan functions as an adjuvant for antitumor mAb by priming the inactivated C3b (iC3b) receptors (CR3; CD11b/CD18) of circulating granulocytes, enabling CR3 to trigger cytotoxicity of iC3b-coated tumors. Recent data indicated that barley beta-1,3;1,4-glucan given orally...

Background: &beta-glucans are glucose polymers with a variety of stimulatory effects on the immune system. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immune-enhancing activities of low molecular weight gamma irradiated &beta-glucan (I&beta-g) extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus in response to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in rats. Materials and Methods: &beta-glucan (&beta-g) powder was ...