What is the first discovered polysaccharide Yeast β-glucan with immunological activity?
Yeast β-glucan, also known as dextran or glucan, is a polysaccharide. It is present in the mucilage secreted by certain microorganisms during their growth process. Modern research has found that the β-glucans found in certain fungi, such as Agaricus blazei Murill, are abundant and possess high biological activity. β-glucans typically have high molecular weights and are primarily composed of D-glucose units linked by α,1→6 glycosidic bonds, with branching points occurring through 1→2, 1→3, and 1→4 linkages. Among them, β-glucans with β-1,3/-1,6 linkages exhibit the highest biological activity. The structure and function of β-glucans vary depending on the species of microorganism and growth conditions. Numerous experiments have demonstrated that β-glucans can promote the production of IgM antibodies in the body, thus enhancing humoral immunity. Activation of cells by these glucans stimulates the host’s nonspecific defense mechanisms, making them particularly promising in treating t...