Abstract
β-D-glucans belong to a group of natural, physiologically active compounds, generally called biological response modifiers. Glucans represent highly conserved structural components of cell walls in yeast, fungi, or seaweed. Despite long history of research, the exact mechanisms of glucan action remain unsolved. The present review starts with the history of glucans. Next, the detailed information about the possible glucan sources is followed by a description of the mechanisms of action. Physiological functions of glucan suggest the possible use of glucans not only as non-specific immunomodulator, but also as its possible future use as a drug.
Keywords: Glucan, saccharides, immune system, macrophages, CR3, yeast
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets
Title: Glucans as Biological Response Modifiers
Volume: 9 Issue: 1
Author(s): M. Novak and V. Vetvicka
Affiliation:
Keywords: Glucan, saccharides, immune system, macrophages, CR3, yeast
Abstract: β-D-glucans belong to a group of natural, physiologically active compounds, generally called biological response modifiers. Glucans represent highly conserved structural components of cell walls in yeast, fungi, or seaweed. Despite long history of research, the exact mechanisms of glucan action remain unsolved. The present review starts with the history of glucans. Next, the detailed information about the possible glucan sources is followed by a description of the mechanisms of action. Physiological functions of glucan suggest the possible use of glucans not only as non-specific immunomodulator, but also as its possible future use as a drug.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Novak M. and Vetvicka V., Glucans as Biological Response Modifiers, Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets 2009; 9 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187153009787582423
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187153009787582423 |
Print ISSN 1871-5303 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 2212-3873 |
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Comprehensive in silico Study of GLUT10: Prediction of Possible Substrate Binding Sites and Interacting Molecules
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Cross Talk Among Leukocytes, Platelets, and Endothelial Cells and its Relevance to Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease
Current Nutrition & Food Science Hyper-Coagulable Profile with Elevated Pro-Thrombotic Biomarkers and Increased Cerebro- and Cardio-Vascular Disease Risk Exist Among Healthy Dyslipidemic Women
Current Neurovascular Research Is Peri-Operative Isolated Systolic Hypertension (ISH) a Cardiac Risk Factor?
Current Cardiology Reviews HMG-Co A Reductase Inhibitors in the Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: Stabilization of Coronary Artery Plaque
Current Drug Targets Diabetes and Chronic Heart Failure: From Diabetic Cardiomyopathy to Therapeutic Approach
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders - Drug Targets A Review of Dietary Influences on Cardiovascular Health: Part 1: the role of Dietary Nutrients
Cardiovascular & Hematological Disorders-Drug Targets Osteoblastic Responses to LPS, Glucose-oxidised LDL and Minocycline: Therapeutic Targets for Periodontal and Cardiometabolic Diseases
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Sleep in Pulmonary Hypertension
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews Is Renalase a Novel Player in Catecholaminergic Signaling? The Mystery of the Catalytic Activity of an Intriguing New Flavoenzyme
Current Pharmaceutical Design Chronic Kidney Disease and Cardiovascular Disease: Is there Any Relationship?
Current Cardiology Reviews Mitochondrial Targeting for Development of Novel Drug Strategies in Brain Injury
Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Cerebrovascular Complications After Heart Transplantation
Current Cardiology Reviews Effects and Perspectives of Chinese Patent Medicines for Tonifying <i>Qi</i> and Promoting Blood Circulation on Patients with Cerebral Infarction
Current Vascular Pharmacology Cardiac Innervation and Sudden Cardiac Death
Current Cardiology Reviews Antioxidant Activity and Chemical Components as Potential Anticancer Agents in the Olive Leaf (Olea europaea L. cv Leccino.) Decoction
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry A Role for Endothelin-1 in Peripheral Vascular Disease
Current Vascular Pharmacology An Overview of Non-Neural Sources of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
Current Medicinal Chemistry Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target for Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Current Alzheimer Research Imaging and Laboratory Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease
Current Pharmaceutical Design