Table 6.
Immunomodulating effects of β-glucans—animal study.
| β-Glucan | Organism | Analysis | Results | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polysaccharide glucan fractions | 8–10 weeks old female C3H/He, C57BL/6, and ICR mice | Mitogenic activity assay, and CSF-inducing activity assay | T-4-N and T-5-N fractions showed mitogenic and CSF-inducing activities. | [49] |
| Fungal SSG glucan | CDF1 mice | Phagocytosis, H2O2, and CS activity assay | Enhanced colony stimulating activity, and activation of Peyer’s patch cells. | [137] |
| Yeast p-β-glucan | Male A/J, and Melanoma B16 model C57BL/6J mice | Histopathological analysis, and Bacterial susceptibility study | Significant reduction in the growth of a syngeneic anaplastic mammary carcinoma and melanoma B16. Prolonged survival of mice with subcutaneous tumor implants, decreased renal necrosis in S. aureus challenged mice and anti-staphylococcal activity. | [138] |
| Yeast β-glucan | Outbred male mice (CD-1, ICR), Inbred male rats (Fischer-344), Healthy mature and laboratory-conditioned cynomolgus male and female monkeys (Macaca fascicularis), seronegative to VEE virus-neutralizing antibody | Measurement of nonspecific potentiation, and specific enhancement of resistance | Significantly enhanced survival of mice challenged with either VEE virus or Rift Valley fever virus. Significant resistance of Glucan + VEE vaccine to homologous virus challenges. | [139] |
| Fungal Schizophyllan | 3-weeks old specific-pathogen free male ICR/CRJ (CD-1) mice | Determination of protective effects of schizophyllan against primary Sendai virus infection in mice, and virus production in the infected lung and serum | Inhibited spread of virus in the lungs. Augmented protective immune responses induced by low doses of a live Sendai virus vaccine. | [140] |
| PGG + Cefazolin | Low inoculum albino Hartley guinea pigs | Bacterial growth, Prophylaxis studies, and MIC assay | PGG + Cefazolin synergistically prevented staphylococcal wound infection. | [141] |
| Oat β-glucan | 6-weeks old female C57BL/6 mice | ELISA, and ELISPOT assay | Higher levels of total serum immunoglobulins and antigens against Eimeria vermiformis infection. | [142] |
| Yeast β-glucan (WGP) | 6-weeks old female BALB/c mice | Anthrax-protective prophylactic effect and tumor-protective effect assay | Significant effect as a prophylactic treatment to reduce the mortality of anthrax infection. | [136] |
| SSG-glucan | 6-week old, female inbred, specific pathogen-free NIH/OlaHsd mice | Mouse survival rate and the number of bacteria in blood samples | A significant dose-dependent effect of SSG against Streptococcus pneumoniae type 4 and 6B. | [143] |
| Fungal β-glucan | NC/Nga mice | Cell cytotoxicity, Sarcoma-180 tumor size, Blood IgE levels, Scratching index, and Human NK cell activity | Prolonged survival, reduction in tumor size, blood IgE levels, scratching index of NC/Nga mice, and enhanced cell cytotoxicity of human NK cells. | [144] |
| Yeast β-glucan | Male and female Wistar albino rats | Biochemical analysis, Apoptosis, Cell death, and Histopathological analysis | Reduced tissue damage. Inhibited the decrease in the stimulation index caused by methotrexate. | [145] |
| Bacterial β-glucan | 4-weeks old male BALB/c and ICR mice | IFN-γ assay of PBMCs, and Antitumor activity assay | Induced IFN-γ and cytokines in spleens and thymus of mice. Enhanced cytotoxic and antitumor activity. | [95] |
| β-glucan from different sources | 8-week old female BALB/c mice | Changes in blood glucose and blood cholesterol levels, and Phagocytosis of HEMA particles | Significant stimulation of IL-2 production and phagocytosis of peripheral blood leukocytes. Lowered blood sugar and cholesterol levels. | [6] |
| Phycarine | 6–10 weeks old female BALB/c and C57B1/6J mice, and male and female pups | Apoptosis, Absorption, and Phagocytosis activity assay | Significant stimulation of phagocytosis, Strong influence on experimentally induced leucopenia, could be used to cure gastrointestinal diseases. | [103] |
| β-glucan from different sources | 3-, and 8-weeks old BALB/c female mice | Phagocytosis, Cytokine assay, Tumor inhibition assay, and RT-PCR | Significant stimulation of phagocyte activity. Increase synthesis and release of ILs, and TNF-α. Inhibited growth of tumor cells in breast cancer cells. | [146] |
| Yeast insoluble-β-glucan | 8-weeks old female BALB/c mice | Phagocytosis, Cold stress response, Changes in serum corticosterone and cytokine production levels | Inhibition of stress related suppression, normal phagocytosis activity. Inhibition of corticosterone, above normal levels of IL-6 and IL-12 secretion. | [147] |
| Lentinan | Male BN/RijHsd rats | Hematopoiesis, Flow cytometry, and Serum cytokine analysis | Significant increase in weight gains, monocytes, blood cells, circulatory cytotoxic T-cells and a reduction in anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10. Increased in cage-side health of acute myeloid leukemia. | [148] |
| Polysaccharide β-glucan | 6–8 weeks old male Swiss albino mice | Macrophage activity assay, Flow cytometry, In vitro NK cell assay, Serum biochemistry and Histological analysis | Significant increase in IL-1 and NO production and increased phagocytic potential. Increased activation of NK cells and proliferation of splenocytes. | [149] |
| Paramylon | 5-week old NC/Nga mice | Histopathological, and Macroscopic analysis | Significantly inhibited the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions with no adverse effect on weight loss. | [150] |
| β-glucan | 5–6 week old Sprague-Dawley male and female rats | Subacute toxicological study, Clinical examination, Pathological analysis, and Flow cytometry | Significant increase in red blood cell, white blood cell, hemoglobin, and thrombocytes. No adverse effect on general condition, growth, behavior, and feed consumption. | [151] |
| Commercial β-1,3;1,6-glucan | Private owned dogs with signs of atopic dermatitis, the dog breeds include: West highland white terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers, German shepherds, Heidewachtels small Munsterlander pointers, Crossbreeds and others | Signs of itching, How many times dog scratches, and Changes in skin color, and thickness | Canine atopic dermatitis diminished. | [152] |
| β-glucan | Adult male Sprague Dawley rats | Physical exercise, Determination of exhaustive time, and Immunohistochemical analysis of oncogenes (c-Jun and c-Fos) | An alleviating effect on the exercise-induced stress through the suppression of oncogenes expression in the brains of exhausted rats. | [153] |
ICR mice: Imprinting control region mice; CSF: Colony stimulating factor; H2O2: Hydrogen peroxide; CS activity: Colony stimulating activity; VEE: Venezuelan equine encephalitis; MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration; ELISA: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; ELISPOT: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot assay; IgE: Immunoglobulin E; NK: Natural killer; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ; PBMC: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; HEMA: Hydroxyethylmethacrylate; IL: InterLeukin; RT-PCR: Reverse transcription-Polymerase chain reaction; NO: Nitric oxide.