| abstract |
PCT No. PCT/US93/07904 Sec. 371 Date Jan. 26, 1995 Sec. 102(e) Date Jan. 26, 1995 PCT Filed Aug. 20, 1993 PCT Pub. No. WO94/04163 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 3, 1994The 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 -glucans 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 -glucans 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. |