Maitake beta-glucan enhances granulopoiesis and mobilization of granulocytes by increasing G-CSF production and modulating CXCR4/SDF-1 expression.

Previous studies have presented that Maitake beta-glucan (MD-Fraction) extracted from the fruit body of Grifola frondosa has an anti-tumor effect by activating the immune system. Recently, the stimulating effects of beta-glucans on hematopoiesis were identified as new characteristics of polysaccharides, possibly helping to relieve the immunosuppression which results from chemotherapies. We demonstrated that the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) was significantly enhanced by MD-Fraction (8mg/kg, i.