Recent Advances and Challenges in Studies of Control of Cancer Stem Cells and the Gut Microbiome by the Trametes-Derived Polysaccharopeptide PSP (Review)

Abstract

The medicinal mushroom Trametes versicolor has been well recognized for its activity in maintaining the general health of the population and in managing and treating human diseases in various cultures. Its use has been recently gaining acceptance and popularity in Western countries. The reported health benefits of T. versicolor led to a search for the identity of its bioactive ingredients. These efforts have resulted in the isolation of the polysaccharopeptide PSP from cultured mycelia of strain Cov-1, which expresses large amounts of PSP. The availability of highly purified PSP was followed by studies of its biological activities using tissue culture models and limited human clinical trials. In this review we summarize recent advances in the antitumorigenic and immunomodulatory effects of PSP, elimination of prostate cancer stem cells and control of the intestinal microbiome, and its interplay with host cells as a prebiotic. These findings may have implications for widening and repurposing the use of PSP.

Mycochemicals against Cancer Stem Cells

“…Nevertheless, medicinal mushroom extracts exert a direct in vitro anti-tumour activity on cancer cells by inhibiting cancer cell adhesion, reducing integrin expression [ 15 ], and inhibiting tumour cell proliferation [ 16 ]. This evidence leads to the hypothesis of the presence of other molecules that may act in synergy with β-glucans to promote anti-cancer activity.…”

“…This finding suggests that PSPs may serve as a potent chemopreventive agent against prostate cancer, potentially by targeting the prostate cancer stem cell (CSC) population. The relevance of PSPs on prostate CSC control was also highlighted in two later studies reporting the control of CSCs and the gut microbiome by the PSP-derived mycelia of the medicinal mushroom T. versicolor strain [ 15 ] and the occurrence of potent anti-cancer synergistic activities through targeting of CSCs between PSP and gamma-tocotrienol [ 24 ].…”

Botanical drugs and supplements affecting the immune response in the time of COVID‐19: Implications for research and clinical practice

“…While rapid, innate immune responses are not specific to the type of microorganism, that is, different provocations trigger similar reactions and response patterns. Thus, innate immunity does not provide continuous protection from a specific pathogen (Carrillo, García, Coronado, García, & Cordero, 2017;Lee & Kim, 2014;Wu et al, 2016).…”

“…There are two categories of adaptive immune responses-humoral immunity (mediated by antibodies produced by B lymphocytes) and cell-mediated immunity (mediated by T lymphocytes). The adaptive immune system can provide longlasting protection from specific pathogens by creating immunological memory following an encounter and response, allowing for enhanced response to the same pathogen in the future (Lee & Kim, 2014;Wu et al, 2016).…”