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Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) 2007Beta-glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides. These glucose polymers are constituents of the cell wall of certain pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The healing and... (Review)
Review
Beta-glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides. These glucose polymers are constituents of the cell wall of certain pathogenic bacteria and fungi. The healing and immunostimulating properties of mushrooms have been known for thousands of years in the Eastern countries. These mushrooms contain biologically active polysaccharides that mostly belong to group of beta-glucans. These substances increase host immune defense by activating complement system, enhancing macrophages and natural killer cell function. The induction of cellular responses by mushroom and other beta-glucans is likely to involve their specific interaction with several cell surface receptors, as complement receptor 3 (CR3; CD11b/CD18), lactosylceramide, selected scavenger receptors, and dectin-1 (betaGR). beta-Glucans also show anticarcinogenic activity. They can prevent oncogenesis due to the protective effect against potent genotoxic carcinogens. As immunostimulating agent, which acts through the activation of macrophages and NK cell cytotoxicity, beta-glucan can inhibit tumor growth in promotion stage too. Anti-angiogenesis can be one of the pathways through which beta-glucans can reduce tumor proliferation, prevent tumor metastasis. beta-Glucan as adjuvant to cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy demonstrated the positive role in the restoration of hematopiesis following by bone marrow injury. Immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies is a novel strategy of cancer treatment. These antibodies activate complement system and opsonize tumor cells with iC3b fragment. In contrast to microorganisms, tumor cells, as well as other host cells, lack beta-glucan as a surface component and cannot trigger complement receptor 3-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and initiate tumor-killing activity. This mechanism could be induced in the presence of beta-glucans.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adult; Agaricales; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Humans; Immune System; Immunity; Immunotherapy; Mice; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Receptors, Complement; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 17895634
DOI: No ID Found -
Molecular Nutrition & Food Research Jan 2021The innate immune system responds in a rapid and non-specific manner against immunologic threats; inflammation is part of this response. This is followed by a slower but... (Review)
Review
The innate immune system responds in a rapid and non-specific manner against immunologic threats; inflammation is part of this response. This is followed by a slower but targeted and specific response termed the adaptive or acquired immune response. There is emerging evidence that dietary components, including yeast-derived β-glucans, can aid host defense against pathogens by modulating inflammatory and antimicrobial activity of neutrophils and macrophages. Innate immune training refers to a newly recognized phenomenon wherein compounds may "train" innate immune cells, such that monocyte and macrophage precursor biology is altered to mount a more effective immunological response. Although various human studies have been carried out, much uncertainty still exists and further studies are required to fully elucidate the relationship between β-glucan supplementation and human immune function. This review offers an up-to-date report on yeast-derived β-glucans as immunomodulators, including a brief overview of the current paradigm regarding the interaction of β-glucans with the immune system. The recent pre-clinical work that has partly decrypted mode of action and the newest evidence from human trials are also reviewed. According to pre-clinical studies, β-1,3/1,6-glucan derived from baker's yeast may offer increased immuno-surveillance, although the human evidence is weaker than that gained from pre-clinical studies.
Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Athletes; Glucans; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Immunologic Factors; Lectins, C-Type; Respiratory Tract Infections; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 32223047
DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201901071 -
Nutrients Nov 2021Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and plants, e.g., cereal seeds, as well as microfungi and macrofungi... (Review)
Review
Beta-glucans comprise a group of polysaccharides of natural origin found in bacteria, algae, and plants, e.g., cereal seeds, as well as microfungi and macrofungi (mushrooms), which are characterized by diverse structures and functions. They are known for their metabolic and immunomodulatory properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral. Recent reports suggest a potential of beta-glucans in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In contrast to β-glucans from other sources, β-glucans from mushrooms are characterized by β-1,3-glucans with short β-1,6-side chains. This structure is recognized by receptors located on the surface of immune cells; thus, mushroom β-glucans have specific immunomodulatory properties and gained BRM (biological response modifier) status. Moreover, mushroom beta-glucans also owe their properties to the formation of triple helix conformation, which is one of the key factors influencing the bioactivity of mushroom beta-glucans. This review summarizes the latest findings on biological and health-promoting potential of mushroom beta-glucans for the treatment of civilization and viral diseases, with particular emphasis on COVID-19.
Topics: Agaricales; Animals; COVID-19; Carbohydrate Conformation; Diet, Healthy; Humans; Immunologic Factors; Nutritive Value; Structure-Activity Relationship; beta-Glucans; COVID-19 Drug Treatment
PubMed: 34836215
DOI: 10.3390/nu13113960 -
Annals of the New York Academy of... Nov 2008beta-Glucans are naturally occurring carbohydrates that possess immune-modulating activities, but their mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Recent discoveries,... (Review)
Review
beta-Glucans are naturally occurring carbohydrates that possess immune-modulating activities, but their mechanisms of action are largely unknown. Recent discoveries, however, including identification of beta-glucan receptors, such as dectin-1, have started to shed some light on the mechanisms underlying the properties of these carbohydrates. The characterization of dectin-1, in particular, has revealed some of the processes involved in beta-glucan sensing, intracellular signaling, and induction of cellular responses and has provided new insights into the role of beta-glucans in immunity and disease. Here we review both beta-glucans and their receptor, dectin-1.
Topics: Animals; Autoimmunity; Humans; Lectins, C-Type; Ligands; Membrane Proteins; Models, Biological; Nerve Tissue Proteins; Receptors, Immunologic; Signal Transduction; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 19076344
DOI: 10.1196/annals.1443.019 -
Chemical Record (New York, N.Y.) Nov 2021β-glucans are polymers of glucose that have been isolated from a variety of organisms. Isolated β-glucans have been used for medical purposes for centuries; however,... (Review)
Review
β-glucans are polymers of glucose that have been isolated from a variety of organisms. Isolated β-glucans have been used for medical purposes for centuries; however, efforts to define the biological activities of β-glucans experimentally were initiated in the 1940's. The diversity of structure associated with isolated β-glucans has impeded said investigations, and efforts to leverage the biological activity of β-glucans for clinical applications. In recognition of the need for defined β-glucans that retain the biological activity of isolated β-glucans, considerable investment has been made to facilitate the synthesis of structurally defined β-glucans. Here, we review the different approaches that have been applied to prepare β-glucans. In addition, we summarize the approaches that have been utilized to conjugate β-glucans to proteins.
Topics: Polymers; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 34010496
DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202100059 -
European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Dec 2017Dietary β-glucans are soluble fibers with potentially health-promoting effects. Gut peptides are important signals in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis.... (Review)
Review
Dietary β-glucans are soluble fibers with potentially health-promoting effects. Gut peptides are important signals in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. This article reviews the effects of different enriched β-glucan food consumption on immune responses, inflammation, gut hormone and cancer. Gut hormones are influenced by enriched β-glucan food consumption and levels of such peptide as YY, ghrelin, glucagon-like peptide 1 and 2 in humans influence serum glucose concentration as well as innate and adaptive immunity. Cancer cell development is also regulated by obesity and glucose dishomeostasy that are influenced by β-glucan food consumption that in turn regulated gut hormones.
Topics: Animals; Functional Food; Ghrelin; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Glucagon-Like Peptide 2; Humans; Inflammation; Neoplasms; Peptide YY; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 28964548
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.09.013 -
Nutrients Jun 2021Mushroom cell walls are rich in β-glucans, long or short-chain polymers of glucose subunits with β-1,3 and β-1,6 linkages, that are responsible for the linear and... (Review)
Review
Mushroom cell walls are rich in β-glucans, long or short-chain polymers of glucose subunits with β-1,3 and β-1,6 linkages, that are responsible for the linear and branching structures, respectively. β-glucans from cereals, at variance, have no 1,6 linkages nor branching structures. Both immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of mushrooms have been described using purified β-glucans or fungi extracts on cellular and experimental models; their potential clinical use has been tested in different conditions, such as recurrent infections of the respiratory tract or complications of major surgery. Another promising application of β-glucans is on cancer, as adjuvant of conventional chemotherapy. β-glucans may protect the cardiovascular system, ameliorating glucose, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure: these activities, observed for oat and barley β-glucans, require confirmation in human studies with mushroom β-glucans. On the other hand, mushrooms may also protect the cardiovascular system via a number of other components, such as bioactive phenolic compounds, vitamins, and mineral elements. The growing knowledge on the mechanism(s) and health benefits of mushrooms is encouraging the development of a potential clinical use of β-glucans, and also to further document their role in preserving health and prevent disease in the context of healthy lifestyles.
Topics: Agaricales; Humans; Plants, Edible; Protective Agents; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 34202377
DOI: 10.3390/nu13072195 -
International Journal of Biological... Apr 2021Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Factors increasing the risks for CVD development are related to obesity, diabetes, high blood... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Factors increasing the risks for CVD development are related to obesity, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and lifestyle. CVD risk factors may be treated with appropriate drugs, but prolonged can use cause undesirable side-effects. Among the natural products used in complementary and alternative medicines, are the β-ᴅ-glucans; biopolymers found in foods (cereals, mushrooms), and can easily be produced by microbial fermentation. Independent of source, β-glucans of the mixed-linked types [(1 → 3)(1 → 6)-β-ᴅ-glucans - fungal, and (1 → 3)(1 → 4)-β-ᴅ-glucans - cereal] have widely been studied because of their biological activities, and have demonstrated cardiovascular protective effects. In this review, we discuss the roles of β-ᴅ-glucans in various pathophysiological conditions that lead to CVDs including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, hypertension, atherosclerosis and stroke. The β-glucans from all of the sources cited demonstrated potential hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and anti-obesogenicity activities, reduced hypertension and ameliorated the atherosclerosis condition. More recently, β-glucans are recognized as possessing prebiotic properties that modulate the gut microbiome and impact on the health benefits including cardiovascular. Overall, all the studies investigated unequivocally demonstrated the dietary benefits of consuming β-glucans regardless of source, thus constituting a promising panaceutical approach to reduce CVD risk factors.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Obesity Agents; Anticholesteremic Agents; Cardiovascular Diseases; Fermentation; Humans; Hypoglycemic Agents; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 33609583
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.02.087 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2017β-glucan is a type of polysaccharide which widely exists in bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants, and has been well known for its biological activities such as enhancing... (Review)
Review
β-glucan is a type of polysaccharide which widely exists in bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants, and has been well known for its biological activities such as enhancing immunity, antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, and wound healing activities. The conformation of β-glucan plays a crucial role on its biological activities. Therefore, β-glucans obtained from different sources, while sharing the same basic structures, often show different bioactivities. The basic structure and inter-molecular forces of polysaccharides can be changed by modification, which leads to the conformational transformation in solution that can directly affect bioactivity. In this review, we will first determine different ways to modify β-glucan molecules including physical methods, chemical methods, and biological methods, and then reveal the relationship of the flexible helix form of the molecule chain and the helix conformation to their bioactivities. Last, we summarize the scientific challenges to modifying β-glucan's conformation and functional activity, and discuss its potential future development.
Topics: Molecular Conformation; Structure-Activity Relationship; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 28208790
DOI: 10.3390/molecules22020257 -
Vaccine Aug 2018β-glucans, a group of polysaccharides exist in many organism species such as mushrooms, yeasts, oats, barley, seaweed, but not mammalians, have a variety of biological... (Review)
Review
β-glucans, a group of polysaccharides exist in many organism species such as mushrooms, yeasts, oats, barley, seaweed, but not mammalians, have a variety of biological activities and applications in drugs and other healthcare products. In recent years, β-glucans have been studied as adjuvants in anti-infection vaccines as well as immunomodulators in anti-cancer immunotherapy. β-glucans can regulate immune responses when administered alone and can connect innate and adaptive immunity to improve immunogenicity of vaccines. When β-glucans act as immunostimulants or adjuvants, a set of receptors have been revealed to recognize β-glucans, including dectin-1, complement receptor 3 (CR3), CD5, lactosylceramide, and so on. Therefore, this review is mainly focused on the application of β-glucans as immune adjuvants, the receptors of β-glucans, as well as their structure and activity relationship which will benefit future research of β-glucans.
Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Animals; Humans; Lectins, C-Type; Protein Binding; Structure-Activity Relationship; beta-Glucans
PubMed: 30049632
DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.07.038