Glucans have a long history as nonspecific biological modulators. We compared the effects of three different glucans on immune reactions. Using two different administrations (intraperitoneal and oral) and two different animal models, we showed that yeast-derived Betamune (Biorigin, São Paulo, Brazil) caused significant stimulation of phagocytic activity as well as potentiation of synthesis and release of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. In addition, Betamune inhibited growth of tumor cells in vivo and affected expression of several important genes in breast cancer cells. Compared to adult mice, young animals showed different sensitivity to glucan action.

Recent developments of innovative anticancer therapies are based on compounds likely to stimulate the immune defense of the patients. β-(1 → 3)-Glucans are natural polysaccharides well-known for their immunostimulating properties. We report here on the synthesis of small oligo-β-(1 → 3)-glucans characterized by thioglycosidic linkages. The presence of sulfur atom(s) was not only crucial to prolong in vivo immunoactive activities in time, compared to native polysaccharides, but sulfur atoms also had a direct impact on the development of colorectal cancer stem cells. As a result, a short, pure, and structurally well-defined trisaccharidic thioglucan demonstrated similar activities compared to those of natural laminarin.

Background: Recent data showing that glucan elicited defense responses in grapevine and induced protection via induction of resveratrol production led us to evaluate the possible synergetic eff ects of glucan and resveratrol complex on immune reactions.Methods: We measured phagocytosis using HEMA particles, expression of cell surface markers via fl ow cytometry, expression of cytokines using ELISA, recovery after fl uouracil-induced leucopenia and eff ects on gene expression via RT-PCR.Results: Our results showed that both glucan and resveratrol complex stimulated phagocytosis of blood leukocytes, caused increase in surface expression of CD + splenocytes and showed higher restoration of spleen recovery after experimentally induced leucopenia. In all these cases, strong synergetic eff ects were observed. When we measured the eff ects of these substances on expression level of NF-κB2, Cdc42 and Bcl-2 in breast cancer cells, upregulation of Cdc42 expression was evident only using both immunomodulators in combination.Conlusions: In conclusion, our data suggest signifi cant synergy in stimulation of immune reactions and support further studies of these natural immunomodulators.

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