PREPARATION AND SPECIFICITY OF ANTIBODIES TO AN ANTITUMOR BETA-GLUCAN, LENTINAN

Antibodies against beta-glucan, lentinan from ''Shiitake'' (Lentinus e dodes), were raised in the rabbit by subcutaneous immunization. Our an tibodies reacted significantly with lentinan by inhibition assay of EL ISA. The antibodies did not recognize the other polysaccharides such a s amylose, dextran, laminarin and galactan. It was proved that lentina n contents in mushroom could be measured by ELISA with the anti-lentin an antisera. Its contents were 3.5 mg/g fresh weight in Lentinus edode s. However, lentinan was not contained in Agaricus brazei, Agaricus bi sporus and Ramaria bitrytis.