Fungal β-Glucans and Mammalian Immunity

Fungal β-Glucans and Mammalian Immunity

β-Glucans are structural cell wall polymers of many fungi which possess immunomodulatory activities. Although the therapeutic benefits associated with these compounds, particularly as anti-infective and antitumorigenic agents, have led to a large body of published research over the last five decades, it is still unclear how these carbohydrates mediate their effects. Recent studies, however, are starting to shed some light on the cellular receptors and molecular mechanisms involved, which also have direct relevance on the innate immune response to fungal pathogens. Main TextOver the last few years, there has been a resurgence of interest in innate immunity and the mechanisms utilized by this evolutionarily ancient arm of the immune system to distinguish self from nonself. What has become apparent from these studies is that the innate recognition of nonself is mediated largely through germline-encoded molecules that recognize conserved microbial structures, the so-called “pattern recognition receptors” (Janeway, 1992). The recent discovery of the Toll-like receptors has also provided insights into how the inflammatory signals are generated in response to microbes. Despite all these discoveries, however, little is known about the innate recognition of fungal pathogens or their components, even though fungal infections are becoming increasingly frequent in immunocompromised individuals world