Effects of α-glucans from Agaricus bisporus on ex vivo cytokine production by LPS and PHA-stimulated PBMCs; a placebo-controlled study in slightly hypercholesterolemic subjects

Abstract

Introduction: Mushrooms are known for their immune modulating effect for which the polysaccharide fraction, mainly glucans, seem to be responsible. Fungal b-glucans have been studied extensively, whereas little is known about mushroom a-glucans. We have earlier shown that the polysaccharide fraction from the mushroom A. bisporus, consisting 90% of a-glucans, induced in vitro tumor necrosis factor (TNF)a and nitric oxide production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of consuming. Method: A. bisporus a-glucan on ex vivo cytokine production by human peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). A doubleblind randomized trial was designed in which 56 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects consumed a control fruit juice with no added a-glucans (200 ml/day) for a 2-week run-in period. For the next 5 weeks, the control group (N ¼ 30) continued consumption of the control fruit juice, whereas the intervention group (N ¼ 26) consumed the same fruit juice enriched with a-glucans from A. bisporus (5 g glucans/day). Changes in interleukin (IL)-1b, IL-6 and TNFa cytokine production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PBMCs were evaluated, as well as changes in T-helper (Th)1/Th2 cytokines by phytohemaggutinin (PHA)-stimulated PBMCs. Results: Consumption of A. bisporus a-glucans lower LPS-induced TNFa production by 69% (P ¼ 0.017) as compared with the control group, whereas no effect on IL-1b and IL-6 was observed. No obvious Th1-Th2 skewing by PHA-stimulated PBMCs was observed. However, we observed a trend towards a decreased production of IL-12 and IL-10. Conclusion: Our current finding suggests that in vivo, a-glucans have lost their efficacy to stimulate the immune response as observed in our in vitro mouse model.

The Nutritional and Medical Benefits of Agaricus Bisporus : A Review

“…The streptozotocin induced diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats fed the A. bisporus powder (200 mg/kg of body weight) for three weeks had significantly reduced triglyceride (TG) and plasma glucose concentrations to 39.1% and 24.7% respectively, liver enzyme activities, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase to 15.7% and 11.7% respectively, and liver weight gain (Jeong et al, 2010). Volman et al (2010) investigated the effects of alpha-glucans from A. bisporus. They reported that consumption of alpha-glucans of A. bisporus mushroom lowered producing lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFa by 69% compared to the control group, whereas no effect on IL-1b and IL-6 was observed.…”

The role of edible mushrooms in health: Evaluation of the evidence

“…The authors suggested that in vivo, alpha-glucans had lost their efficacy to stimulate the immune response as observed in an in vitro mouse model (Volman, Mensink, van Griensven, & Plat, 2010a).…”

ASSESSING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF CARBOXYMETHYLATED DERIVATIVES OF Α -(1 → 3)-Glucans ISOLATED FROM FRUITING BODIES OF CULTIVATED PLEUROTUS SPECIES

“…α-Glukany wykazują, potwierdzone doświadczalnie, działanie prozdrowotne. Na szczególną uwagę zasłu-guje aktywność przeciwnowotworowa, immunostymulująca oraz antyoksydacyjna [17,18]. Augustin i wsp.…”