ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: beta-1,3-glucans are well known to enhance the immune reactions, resulting in antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory and wound healing activities. beta-1, 3-glucans have various activities depending on molecular weight, degree of branching, conformation, water-solubility and intermolecular association. However, the beta-1,3-glucan linked backbone structure is essential and beta-D-glucopyranosyl units are required for immuno-potentiating activities. RESULT: In this study, we tested the immunophamacological activities of soluble beta-1,3-glucans and confirmed the following activities: (1) IFN-gamma production in PBMCs in the presence or the absence of PHA, LPS, or IL-18; (2) induction of various cytokines in the spleen and thymus; (3) adjuvant effect on the antibody production; (4) nitrogen oxide synthesis in macrophages; (5) the cytotoxic and antitumor effects on cell lines and ICR mice. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggested that beta-1,3-glucans possessed various immuno-pharmacological activities