We all know the flu can be rough—fever, chills, body aches, and in severe cases, dangerous complications like pneumonia. But what if something as simple as a component found in mushrooms and other fungi could help our bodies fight back?
A new study led by McGill University researchers suggests that beta-glucan, a natural compound found in all fungi (as well as grains like oats and barley), might help protect the lungs from flu-related damage. When given to mice before flu exposure, beta-glucan improved lung function, reduced inflammation, and even lowered the risk of severe illness and death.
But it’s not just the flu that this compound may help with—scientists believe beta-glucan could also play a role in reducing complications from sepsis and COVID-19 by modulating immune responses and preventing excessive inflammation.
A Different Approach to Fighting the Flu and Other Deadly Infections
Most flu research focuses on stopping the virus itself. But this study took a different route—looking at how to help the immune system handle the infection more effectively. The researchers explored a concept called “disease tolerance”, which is about helping the body manage illness without going into overdrive.
One of the biggest risks with severe flu, sepsis, and COVID-19 isn’t the virus or bacteria alone—it’s the immune system’s overreaction. When the immune response goes into overdrive, it can cause extreme inflammation, leading to lung damage, organ failure, and even death. This dangerous immune overreaction is a major problem in conditions like:
- Severe flu infections – where lung inflammation can turn deadly.
- Sepsis – a life-threatening condition caused by an out-of-control immune response to infection.
- COVID-19 – where excessive inflammation (often called a “cytokine storm”) has led to severe respiratory distress and fatalities.
The study found that beta-glucan helps balance the immune response, preventing excessive inflammation while still allowing the body to fight off infections.
How Beta-Glucan Reprograms the Immune System
One of the most surprising discoveries was that beta-glucan reprograms neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, to prevent excessive inflammation rather than trigger it.
“Neutrophils are usually known for causing inflammation, but beta-glucan actually shifts their role, helping them calm things down instead,” explained Kim Tran, one of the study’s co-authors.
This suggests that beta-glucan doesn’t just boost immunity—it fine-tunes it, reducing the risk of severe lung inflammation, sepsis, and complications from viral infections like COVID-19.
What Does This Mean for Us?
While this research is still in its early stages and was conducted on mice, it opens the door for exploring how beta-glucan could be used in humans. With flu season in full swing and concerns over bird flu (H5N1), sepsis, and new viral threats, finding ways to support the immune system without causing harmful inflammation is more important than ever.
Since fungi are a natural part of the human microbiome, it’s possible that the types and amounts of fungi we’re exposed to could influence how our immune systems respond to infections. Researchers plan to investigate this further in future studies.
This study, published in Nature Immunology, was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Could mushrooms and other fungi hold the key to reducing flu complications, preventing sepsis, and even improving COVID-19 outcomes? The science is still unfolding, but beta-glucan is showing promise as a natural way to help the immune system fight smarter—not harder.
Bibliography
- Khan, N., Tran, K., Divangahi, M., et al. (2024). β-Glucan reprograms neutrophils to promote disease tolerance against influenza A virus. Nature Immunology. [DOI or link if available]
- Divangahi, M., et al. (2024). The role of beta-glucan in immune modulation and respiratory diseases. McGill University Research Institute.
- Tran, K., et al. (2024). Beta-glucan and neutrophil reprogramming in viral infections. University of Calgary Immunology Review.
- Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). Funding announcement for beta-glucan research in viral immunity. [Link if available]