Polysaccharides from Agaricus blazei stimulate lymphocyte T-cell subsets in mice.
Subset analysis of splenic lymphocytes using flow cytometry showed that the percentages of Thy1.2-(pan T-cells), L3T4-(CD4, helper T-cells), and Lyt2-(CD8, cytotoxic T-cells) positive cell populations were significantly increased in mice orally administered a hot water-soluble fraction from Agaricus blazei as compared with mice treated only with saline. 13C-NMR data indicates that the main component in the active polysaccharide is the complex of alpha-1,6- and alpha-1,4-glucan, which had already been shown to have anti-tumor activity against Sarcoma 180. It seems that the polysaccharide from Agaricus blazei may be an effective prophylactic, protecting humans against cancer by stimulating lymphocytes such as cytotoxic T-cells.
Mizuno
M
M
Division of Science of Biological Resources, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Kobe University, Japan.
Morimoto
M
M
Minato
K
K
Tsuchida
H
H
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000364:Agaricus / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000187:drug effects*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D002247:Carbon Isotopes; D011134:Polysaccharides