Beta 1,3 glucan activates macrophages, putting these front-line immune system defenders on high alert. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell, circulate throughout the body and engulf and digest foreign invaders. They also play a pivotal role in coordinating the immune system's arsenal of defenses.
Taken orally, beta 1,3 glucan stimulates the innate immune system when it comes in contact with macrophages present in
Peyer's Patches, specialized regions in the small intestine that transport antigens, such as bacteria and toxins, to the
immune cells of the gut. This activity initiates a cascade of events leading to the expression of an overall heightened
cellular immune response that includes increased:
- Production of white blood cells in the bone marrow, including macrophages, neutrophils and monocytes, which attack and devour harmful invaders
- Cellular mobilization, which is the ability to recognize "enemies" and move to the site of a foreign challenge
- Phagocytic capacity or the ability to engulf non-self cells
- Production of anti-microbial agents, such as reactive oxygen intermediates, that lead to an enhanced ability of the immune system to defeat a challenge
These are triggered once the activated macrophages travel to the Gut-Associated-Lymphatic-Tissue (GALT) where it communicates the activation signal to other members of the immune system resulting in an activation of the innate immune system comprised of the macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer or NK cells. These phagocytic macrophages and neutrophils patrol the body with heightened sensitivity to identify, engulf and destroy foreign cells through a process called "phagocytosis." The macrophages kills and degrades the invader into peptides, which are used to communicate the foreigner's presence to the body's other defenders, including B-cells and T-cells.
These cells are all part of the acquired immune system, which adapts or learns to defend the body against a specific threat.
T-cells help defend the body two ways. Some T-cells help regulate the complex workings of the immune system and others destroy infected or mutant cells. These cytotoxic T-cells need to recognize a specific antigen before it kills, whereas NK cells do not.
Once alerted to the presence of an antigen, B-cells create large plasma cells that act as small factories secreting antibodies.
This is how the immune system rids the body of harmful invaders. Numerous scientific studies have proven that beta 1,3 glucan is a potent macrophage activator, which begins a cascade of events that help the immune system achieve top performance.
