Patent · US Expired

Underivatized, aqueous soluable .beta.(1-3) glucan, composition and method of making same

US5817643A · kind A · utility

49Cited by
13References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 6, 1995
Grant dateOct 6, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 6, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02A50/30
  • WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucans which exert potent and specific immunological effects without stimulating the production of certain cytokines, to preparations containing the novel .beta.-glucans, and to a novel manufacturing process therefor. The neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan preparation has a high affinity for the .beta.-glucan receptor of human monocytes and retains two primary biological (or immunological) activities, (1) the enhancement of microbicidal activity of phagocytic cells, and (2) monocyte, neutrophil and platelet hemopoietic activity. Unlike soluble glucans described in the prior art, the neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan of this invention neither induces nor primes IL-1.beta. and TNF.alpha. production in vitro and in vivo. Safe and efficacious preparations of neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan of the present invention can be used in therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment regimens of humans and animals to enhance their immune response, without stimulating the production of certain biochemical mediators (e.g., IL-1.beta., TNF.alpha.) that can cause detrimental side effects, such as fever and inflammation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.