Biological activity of most relevant β-glucans investigated in pre-clinical studies
| Pre-clinical study (ref.) | Treatment models | β-glucans/fungus | Biological activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorimachi K, et al., [64]Niu YC, et al., [65] | Animal model (rat bone marrow)Animal model (mouse S180 cells), IV administration | Glucan/Agaricus blazei Murill | - ↑ secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α by macrophages- ↑ production of IL-23, IL-12, IL-1- ↑ cytokine and leukocyte growth factor production |
| Kubala L, et al., [66]Zhong K, et al., [67] | Human modelMice splenic Lymphocytes | Schizophyllan/Schizophyllum commune | - ↑ lymphocytes proliferation, through production of IL-2- ↑ production of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-alpha |
| Yang A, et al., [68] | Murine macrophagesHuman hepatoma HepG2 cells | TPG-1/Trametes robiniophila | - ↑ production of TNF-α and IL-6 through toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) |
| Wang J, et al., [69]Wang SY, et al., [70]Chien CM, et al., [71] | Animal model, in vitro, Raw 264.7 cellsHuman myeloid leukemia cell linesHuman umbilical cord blood | Proteoglycan fraction/Ganoderma lucidum | - ↑ anti-inflammation activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation- ↑ T cells activity- ↑ expression of IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α and INF-γ- modulate NK cell cytotoxicity |
| Carmona EM, et al., [72]Ali MF, et al., [73] | Rat cellsHuman model | Glucan/Pneumocystis and Aspergillus | - ↑ TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 production by B-lymphocytes- ↑ IL-23 and IL-6 release by dendritic cells- ↑ secretion of IL-17 and IL-22, both Th17-produced cytokines |
| Kankkunen P, et al., [52]Ding J, et al., [74]Vetvicka V, et al., [47] | Human macrophagesHuman monocyte-derived DCsMurine melanoma B16 cell line | Glucan/Saccharomyces cerevisiae | - ↑ Th2 immune response and inhibits Th1 by promoting the release of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF-β)- ↑ IL-1β transcription and secretion- ↑ IL12, IL-2, TNF, IFN production- ↑ tumor-specific CTL activity- modulate NK cells activity and killing towards tumor cells |
| Ina K, et al., [75] | Human model (gastric cancer patients), IV administration | Lentinan/Lentinula edodes | - ↑ PD-L1 tumor expression- ↑ release of TNF-α, IL-12 and IFN-γ- ↑ T cells activity, especially CD8+ cells and Th1 polarization |
| Masuda Y, et al., [76]Masuda Y, et al., [77] | Animal modelAnimal model | Maitake α-glucan (YM-2A)/Grifola frondosa | - ↑ activation of dendritic cells and macrophages- ↑ IFN-γ production by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells |
| Bose N, et al., [78] | Human serum | Imprime PGG/Saccharomyces cerevisiae | - ↑ phenotypic and functional activation of monocytes- ↑ activation of neutrophils, through production of IL-8, CCL2, and CD11b |