Table 2.
Immunomodulatory actions of different β-glucans.
| S. No | β-Glucans Source/Type | Model/Organism | Immuno-modulatory effects | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plant derived (Sparassis crispa, Phellinus linteus, Platycodon grandiflorum, Cordyceps millitaris, and Angelica gigas Nakai) | In vitro | DC maturation; Translocation of NF-κB subunits to the nucleus | (94) |
| 2 | Mushroom and barley | In vitro | PBMC proliferation; IL-12 and IL-10 production | (95) |
| 3 | Cellulose | In vitro | No immunomodulation | (95) |
| 4 | Spent Brewers’ Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) | In vivo - rats and human clinical trials | Phagocytosis, oxidative burst, production of cytokines and chemokines in dendritic cells and macrophages; interleukin-1β (IL-1β) | (96) |
| 5 | Curdlan (Alcaligenes faecalis) | In vitro | Activation of MAPKs and NF-κB Pathways; M1 Phenotype Polarization | (97) |
| 6 | Euglena gracilis | In vitro and animal studies | Transactivation of NF-κB; expression of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-6, COX2, and iNOS); production of high level of NO | (98) |
| 7 | Synthetic Beta-glucan (βglu6) | In vitro | Secretion of large levels of cytokines and chemokines, including CD54, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-16, IL-17, IL-23, IFN-γ, CCL1, CCL3, CCL4, CCL12, CXCL10, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and G-CSF in murine macrophages as well as IL-6, CCL2, CCL3, CCL5, CXCL1 and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) | (99) |
| 8 | Mushroom Pleurotus ostreatus | Human clinical trials | Increased number of circulating natural killer cells as well as a preventive effect on the reduction of natural killer cell activity | (100) |
| 9 | PGG Glucan Saccharomyces cerevisiae | In vitro | Enhanced neutrophil anti-microbial functions | (101) |
| 10 | Fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum IFO 939 | In vitro | Enhanced Phagocytic activity and interleukin-1 (IL-1) production | (102) |
| 11 | Shiitake medicinal mushroom, Lentinus edodes (Berk.) singer mycelium | Human clinical trial | Increase in the number of circulating B-cells | (103) |
| 12 | Algae | In vitro | Increase in phagocytic activity; stimulation of IL-2 secretion | (104) |
| 13 | Agrobacterium-derived | |||
| 14 | Oats | |||
| 15 | Pustulan (β-(1,6)-glucan), lichenan (β-(1,3)-(1,4)- glucan), xyloglucan (β-(1,4)- glucan), and pullulan (α-(1,4)- (1,6)-glucan) | In vitro | Strong cytokine production | (105) |
| 16 | Aureobasidium pullulans | In vitro, animal models and human clinical studies | Increase in production of interleukin-8 (IL-8) or soluble Fas (sFas); Decrease in IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12 (p70+40), interferongamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factoralpha (TNF-alpha) or soluble Fas ligand (sFasL); Decrease of CRP, Ferritin and DDimer; Increase in NK cells and T cells; Activation of Dendritic cells; Activation of MAPKs and NF-κB Pathways; Stimulation of Macrophages | (38, 39, 41, 42, 49–51) |