The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 06, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 06, 1995
Spiros Jamas, Boston, MA (US);
D Davidson Easson, Jr, Shrewsbury, MA (US);
Gary R Ostroff, Worcester, MA (US);
Alpha-Beta Technology, Inc., Worcester, MA (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucans which exert potent and specific immunological effects without stimulating the production of certain cytokines, to preparations containing the novel .beta.-glucans, and to a novel manufacturing process therefor. The neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan preparation has a high affinity for the .beta.-glucan receptor of human monocytes and retains two primary biological (or immunological) activities, (1) the enhancement of microbicidal activity of phagocytic cells, and (2) monocyte, neutrophil and platelet hemopoietic activity. Unlike soluble glucans described in the prior art, the neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan of this invention neither induces nor primes IL-1.beta. and TNF.alpha. production in vitro and in vivo. Safe and efficacious preparations of neutral, aqueous soluble .beta.-glucan of the present invention can be used in therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment regimens of humans and animals to enhance their immune response, without stimulating the production of certain biochemical mediators (e.g., IL-1.beta., TNF.alpha.) that can cause detrimental side effects, such as fever and inflammation.