Immunostimulant oxidized beta-glucan conjugates

beta -Glucans are polysaccharides that act as nonspecific immune system sti mulants. However, many beta -Glucans are sparingly soluble in water. This w ork describes an oxidative procedure, which solubilizes the beta -Glucan fr om Saccharomyces cerevisiae and maintains its immunostimulatory properties. Furthermore, the carboxylates at the site of oxidation allow for the conju gation of small molecule immunostimulants. Both the parent oxidized beta -g lucan and its conjugates with O-beta -alanyl-5-[6-(N, N'-dimethylamino)puri n-9-yl]pentanol stimulate cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), B cells acid macr ophages. In addition, they both stimulate natural killer (NK) cells, a prop erty which the small molecule purine does not possess. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.