Review article - Peer-reviewed, 2020
Structure-Functional Activity Relationship of beta-Glucans From the Perspective of Immunomodulation: A Mini-Review
Han, Biao; Baruah, Kartik; Cox, Eric; Vanrompay, Daisy; Bossier, PeterAbstract
beta-Glucans are a heterogeneous group of glucose polymers with a common structure comprising a main chain of beta-(1,3) and/or beta-(1,4)-glucopyranosyl units, along with side chains with various branches and lengths. beta-Glucans initiate immune responses via immune cells, which become activated by the binding of the polymer to specific receptors. However, beta-glucans from different sources also differ in their structure, conformation, physical properties, binding affinity to receptors, and thus biological functions. The mechanisms behind this are not fully understood. This mini-review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date commentary on the relationship between beta-glucans' structure and function in relation to their use for immunomodulation.Keywords
beta-glucans; structure-function relationship; immunomodulation; molecular structure; molecular weight; solubilityPublished in
Frontiers in Immunology2020, volume: 11, article number: 658
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
Authors' information
Han, Biao
Univ Ghent
Ghent University
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Animal Nutrition and Management
Cox, Eric
Univ Ghent
Vanrompay, Daisy
Univ Ghent
Bossier, Peter
Univ Ghent
UKÄ Subject classification
Pathobiology
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2020.00658
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/105999