title: Immunostimulant oxidized beta-glucan conjugates.
abstract: beta-Glucans are polysaccharides that act as nonspecific immune system stimulants. However, many beta-Glucans are sparingly soluble in water. This work describes an oxidative procedure, which solubilizes the beta-Glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and maintains its immunostimulatory properties. Furthermore, the carboxylates at the site of oxidation allow for the conjugation of small molecule immunostimulants. Both the parent oxidized beta-glucan and its conjugates with O-beta-alanyl-5-[6-(N,N'-dimethylamino)purin-9-yl]pentanol stimulate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), B cells and macrophages. In addition, they both stimulate natural killer (NK) cells, a property which the small molecule purine does not possess.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council, 100 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0R6.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Cross
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Whitfield
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Penney
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zacharie
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gagnon
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D005260:Female; D005936:Glucans / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000737:chemistry; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D005936:Glucans