International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms

ISSN for PRINT: 1521-9437

For Online Access

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2002, Volume4

Issue 2

106 pages

Issue price - $128.00

Naohito Ohno
Tokyo University Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Laboratory Immunopharmacological Microbiological Production, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

Takafumi Jinushi
Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

Toshiro Yadomae
Laboratory of Immunopharmacology of Microbial Products, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan

The immunomodulating effects of various gel-forming (1®3)-beta-glucans on balancing helper T-cell activity were examined in a murine model. Plasma from mice injected with grifolan (GRN) from the edible and medicinal mushroom Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S. F. Gray [or alkaline-treated sonifilan (SPG-OH)] and trinitrophenyl ovalbumin (TNP-OVA) contained TNP-specific antibodies of both IgG1 (Th2-mediated) and IgG2a (Th1-mediated) isotypes. Administration of glucan (SSG) from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary IFO 9395 and TNP-OVA significantly augmented the synthesis of IgG2a antibodies, while the synthesis of IgG1 was reduced. Furthermore, intracellular cytokine staining showed a higher proportion of IFN-g-producing helper T cells in SSG-administered murine splenocytes. The highest IFN-g production was observed when adherent cells of mice administered TNP-OVA and SSG were cultured with TNP-primed lymphocytes. This effect of administration of SSG on IFN-g production was completely inhibited by addition of anti-IL-12 mAb. The content of the reduced form of glutathione in splenocytes was increased by SSG administration, suggesting type 1 immunoresponse. Depletion of lymphoid dendritic cell population from SSG-administered splenocytes reduced IFN-g production. In conclusion, our study showed that beta-glucans have various effects on the Th1- or Th2-dependent antibody subclasses and, in particular, that SSG induces the development of Th1 cells via the IL-12 pathway.

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