ReviewMolecular biology reports2025
Beta-Glucan in barley as a natural immunomodulator: mechanisms and therapeutic potential.
Review in Molecular biology reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Deciphering the Structure-Immunomodulatory Function Relationships of Homopolysaccharides.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Young Human-Derived Microbiota Ameliorates Cognitive Decline and Reproductive Senescence in Aged Mice.Nutrients · 2026Article
- Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Nitrogen Regulation on Grain Quality in Cereal Crops at Later Stages.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a major cereal crop recognized for its abundant β-glucan content, a soluble dietary fiber exhibiting significant nutritional and immunomodulatory properties. Structurally composed of mixed-linkage (1→3)(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl units, barley β-glucans possess unique physicochemical attributes underpinning their biological activity. Their biosynthesis is primarily governed by cellulose synthase-like (Csl) genes, notably HvCslF6, while environmental conditions, agronomic practices, and genetic diversity further modulate β-glucan accumulation. β-glucans act as natural immunomodulators, engaging pattern recognition receptors such as Dectin-1, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and CR3, thereby activating key innate and adaptive immune pathways, including the MyD88 and Syk cascades. This results in enhanced macrophage, dendritic cell, activate natural killer (NK) cells, and T-cell functions, along with modulation of inflammatory and oxidative stress responses. Barley β-glucans also exert antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic regulatory effects, contributing to the management of chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and inflammatory disorders. Recent advancements in pretreatment (germination, fermentation, ultrasonic-assisted extraction), molecular breeding (QTL mapping, GWAS, MAS), and genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9 targeting Csl genes) have accelerated efforts to optimize β-glucan yield and functionality. Emerging applications extend beyond nutrition to biomedical materials and vaccine adjuvants, driven by β-glucan's ability to induce trained immunity and enhance vaccine responses. Nonetheless, structural heterogeneity and incomplete mechanistic insights pose challenges to clinical translation. This review critically integrates molecular, immunological, and biotechnological perspectives on barley β-glucans, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary strategies to unlock their full therapeutic and functional potential in advancing human health and sustainable food systems.
Indexed as
Identifiers
41075026What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.