Abstract
The effects of antitumor-active [β-1, 3-glucan (grifolan)] and inactive [β-1, 6(islandican), α-1, 4-(starch)]glucans in mice were compared. β-1, 6-Glucan enhanced the antitumor activity of grifolan, whereas α-1, 4-glucan showed a suppressive effect on the antitumor activity of grifolan. When these glucans were injected i.p. into normal mice, the glucans disappeared gradually. The rate of disappearance was in the order α-1, 4>β-1, 6>β-1, 3. Grifolan induced peritoneal exudate cells, but β-1, 6 and α-1, 4-glucans did not. Only α-1, 4-glucan was degradated by the lysate of the peritoneal exudate cells. These results indicate that the antitumor activity of β-1, 3-glucan can be positively or negatively modulated by other glucans, and that glucans showing different antitumor effects have a variety of actions and fates in mice.
