Immunostimulatory properties and antitumor activities of glucans

Abstract

New foods and natural biological modulators have recently become of scientific interest in the investigation of the value of traditional medical therapeutics. Glucans have an important part in this renewed interest. These fungal wall components are claimed to be useful for various medical purposes and they are obtained from medicinal mushrooms commonly used in traditional Oriental medicine. The immunotherapeutic properties of fungi extracts have been reported, including the enhancement of anticancer immunity responses. These properties are principally related to the stimulation of cells of the innate immune system. The discovery of specific receptors for glucans on dendritic cells (dectin-1), as well as interactions with other receptors, mainly expressed by innate immune cells (e.g., Toll-like receptors, complement receptor-3), have raised new attention toward these products as suitable therapeutic agents. We briefly review the characteristics of the glucans from mycelial walls as modulators of the immunity and their possible use as antitumor treatments.

Immunomodulating effects of probiotics for microbiota modulation, gut health and disease resistance in pigs

“…Beta-glucans have gained special focus due to their immune-stimulatory properties, since they interact with specific receptors of the innate immune system such as dectin-1 on dendritic cells (Vannucci et al 2013). Next to the immune-stimulatory properties, beta-glucans can modulate the gut microbiota.…”

Effect of β-glucan Supplementation on Levels of IgM, IgA, IgG and Its Subclasses IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 in Cancer Patients

“…With over 15,000 published papers, it is not surprising that more and more attention is focused onβ-glucan in medicine. Effects of β-glucan supplementation on cancer growth, allergy, autoimmune diseases, gastrointestinal tract problems, infections and other pathophysiological problems were repeatedly demonstrated [13][14][15][16] (for review see Vetvicka [17] , Vannucci [18] . Our own experience with the positive effects of the addition of glucan to the diet of patients finishing their cancer treatment on cellular immunity led us to this study evaluating effects of glucan supplementation on humoral immunity and on possible elimination of stress and additional side effects of cancer treatment.…”

From Hyperthermia to Immunomodulating Polysaccharides

“…Similarly, suppression of VEGF expression leading to slower tumor progression was documented (Xu et al, 2016). Readers keen to see a recent summary of our knowledge of glucan's role in cancer inhibition should read some recent excellent reviews (Vannucci et al, 2013;Sima et al, 2015).…”