06.01.10
Subtle differences in the molecular structure of various beta 1,3/1,6 glucans can significantly affect their ability to enhance innate immune system responses, according to new research from Biothera presented recently at the National Cancer Institutes’ Frontiers in Basic Immunology 2009.
Derived from the cell walls of yeast, fungi and other sources, beta 1,3/1,6 glucans are polysaccharides characterized by a basic structure of chains of glucose molecules that have a beta 1,3 linked backbone and 1,6 linked branches. Glucans from different sources can vary in terms of backbone structure, branching linkages, frequency and length, molecular weight and higher order aggregates that naturally form. However, the new research demonstrated that even glucans from the same source might have slight variations in these characteristics, which affect bioactivity.
A series of structure-activity relationship studies compared the activity of three soluble beta glucans (scleroglucan, a fungal derived glucan; Imprime PGG, a yeast-derived glucan from Biothera; and laminarin, an algae-derived glucan) for both binding and immune activation studies.
In an in vivo anti-tumor study, beta 1,3/1,6 glucans from three separate sources with similar primary structures were combined with a monoclonal antibody in a lymphoma model. In this study, the survival rate of animals treated with Imprime PGG was more than double of those receiving other sourced glucans with similar primary structures.
The in vitro study also analyzed the ability of these polysaccharides to bind to human immune cells. Previous research has demonstrated the ability of beta glucan-primed neutrophils to kill cancer cells. The study also demonstrated that soluble glucans bind to human neutrophils, but not equally. Imprime PGG had the highest level of binding in comparison to scleroglucan, which had minimal binding ability. For further information: www.biothera.com
Derived from the cell walls of yeast, fungi and other sources, beta 1,3/1,6 glucans are polysaccharides characterized by a basic structure of chains of glucose molecules that have a beta 1,3 linked backbone and 1,6 linked branches. Glucans from different sources can vary in terms of backbone structure, branching linkages, frequency and length, molecular weight and higher order aggregates that naturally form. However, the new research demonstrated that even glucans from the same source might have slight variations in these characteristics, which affect bioactivity.
A series of structure-activity relationship studies compared the activity of three soluble beta glucans (scleroglucan, a fungal derived glucan; Imprime PGG, a yeast-derived glucan from Biothera; and laminarin, an algae-derived glucan) for both binding and immune activation studies.
In an in vivo anti-tumor study, beta 1,3/1,6 glucans from three separate sources with similar primary structures were combined with a monoclonal antibody in a lymphoma model. In this study, the survival rate of animals treated with Imprime PGG was more than double of those receiving other sourced glucans with similar primary structures.
The in vitro study also analyzed the ability of these polysaccharides to bind to human immune cells. Previous research has demonstrated the ability of beta glucan-primed neutrophils to kill cancer cells. The study also demonstrated that soluble glucans bind to human neutrophils, but not equally. Imprime PGG had the highest level of binding in comparison to scleroglucan, which had minimal binding ability. For further information: www.biothera.com