Effect of molecular size and modification pattern on the internalization of water soluble β-(1 → 3)-(1 → 4)-glucan by primary murine macrophages

Highly purified water-soluble barley/oat beta-(1,3)(1,4)-glucans of 10, 200, and 500 kDa were compared in primary mouse macrophages. The 10-kDa form was internalized most effectively; labeling the main chain reduced uptake, whereas labeling the reducing end did not. Blocking experiments implicated CD11b, and the small glucan increased CD11b and TNF-alpha measurements. This in-vitro study concerns cereal beta-glucan structure and uptake, not clinical outcomes or Aureobasidium beta-(1,3)(1,6)-glucan.