[Macrophage activation by polysaccharides from yeast-like fungi]

The effect of polysaccharides isolated from yeast-like fungi on diverse activities of murine peritoneal macrophages was studied in experiments in vitro. Yeast polysaccharides had a nonspecific activating effect on macrophages in tissue culture. They enhance the adhesion of macrophages to glass, stimulate phagocytosis and intracellular digestion, and change the chemotactic activity. The activity of polysaccharides directly correlates with their molecular weight. There is a relationship between the biological activity and chemical structure of polysaccharides. The beta-structural polysaccharides are capable of activating the functions of macrophages, while beta-structural dextrans do not possess such properties.