Immune-Stimulating Effects of Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii (Agaricomycetes) Water Extract via TNF-α and IFN-γ

Abstract

Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii has been used as culinary material in East Asia. We previously reported the antiasthmatic effect of M. aitchisonii; in this study we evaluated the mushroom's immune-stimulating effects. To analyze these effects, we conducted an in vitro study with splenocytes and an in vivo study with the Porsolt enforced swim test. In the in vitro study, the cell proliferation effect of the M. aitchisonii water extract (WT) was measured and the in vivo study depended on the dose of M. aitchisonii WT and the effect on swimming duration; several immune reaction-related factors were assessed, such as white blood cell count, differential cell count, the ratio of thymus or spleen weight to body weight, and concentrations of some cytokines in serum. Almost all measured factors that are related to immune stimulation were dose-dependently increased, such as the number of splenocytes and monocytes, the swimming duration, the relative weight of the thymus, and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ. Based on the results, we conclude that M. aitchisonii WT has an immune-stimulating effect via TNF-α and IFN-γ, and that M. aitchisonii WT is an immune-stimulating agent and can be produced as a functional food.

Korean Red Ginseng affects ovalbumin-induced asthma by modulating IL-12, IL-4, and IL-6 levels and the NF-κB/COX-2 and PGE2 pathways

“…Drugs for asthma treatment have a lot of adverse effects such as growth retardation [ 22 ], neurological disorders (e.g., catatonia, lack of concentration, and insomnia), and physiological disorders (e.g., immunosuppression, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and osteoporosis) [ 23 ]. Therefore, numerous studies have been conducted to identify safer and more effective anti-asthma drugs [ 4 , 8 , 13 , 17 , 18 , 28 ]. Korean Red Ginseng is known to affect various aspects of physiology, such as immunity [ 25 ], circulation [ 26 ], and inflammation [ 27 ], and diseases, such as allergy [ 28 ], cancer [ 29 ], metabolic diseases [ 30 ], and neurodegenerative diseases [ 31 ].…”

“…Asthma is a chronic pulmonary hyperesponsiveness [ 5 ] and can be caused by various allergens that consist of two classes: (1) indoor stimulators such as pet dander and house mite dust and (2) outdoor ones such as pollutants, chemicals, and cold temperatures, among others [ 6 , 7 ]. Allergens induce cytokine modulation, including that of Th1-related factors (IFN-γ and IL-12) [ 8 , 9 ] and Th2-related cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) [ [10] , [11] , [12] ] through Th17-related ones (IL-6 and TNF-α) [ 13 , 14 ]; asthma is then considered the result of an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cells [ 15 , 16 ]. The physiological balance of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes may be shifted due to asthma, which causes Th2-related factors such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 to increase [ 17 ].…”

Partial Purification and Biochemical Evaluation of Protease Fraction (MA-1) from Mycoleptodonoides aitchisonii and Its Fibrinolytic Effect

“…In the last decade, toxicity and bioactivity evaluations of the functional materials of M. aitchisonii extracts have been conducted. Hot water extracts have been reported to be closely associated with immune regulation, improvement of brain function, antihypertensive effects, and improvement of ischemic damage [ 1 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 12 , 13 ]. Recently, the hot water extracts of artificially grown M. aitchisonii have been reported to contain a high polysaccharide content of 30% or more.…”

“…Recently, Republic of Korea has succeeded in the mass production of M. aitchisonii through artificial cultivation [ 3 ]. Recently, studies on the biological efficacy of M. aitchisonii , the toxicity of single and repeated administration of hot water extracts [ 4 ], the anti-asthma [ 5 ] and immune-stimulating effects of polysaccharides [ 6 ], and the anti-obesity effects [ 7 ] of M. aitchisonii dried powder, have been conducted. The methanol extract of M. aitchisonii has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect [ 8 ].…”