Ganoderma lucidum mycelium and spore extracts as natural adjuvants for immunotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Ganoderma lucidum (GL) is one of the most commonly used Chinese herbs in the oriental community, with more than 30% of pediatric cancer patients taking GL. The immunomodulating and anticancer effects exerted by GL extracts have been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies. There was, however, no comparison between the immunomodulating effects of GL mycelium extract (GL-M) and spore extracts on human immune cells. Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells and their role in DC-based tumor vaccine has been well defined. The possibility of GL as natural adjuvant for human DCs remains unknown.


METHODS
This study explored the differential effect of GL-M and GL spore extract (GL-S) on proliferation and Th1/Th2 cytokine mRNA expression of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and monocytes. Their effects on the phenotypic and functional maturation of human monocyte-derived DCs were also investigated.


RESULTS
GL-M induced the proliferation of PBMCs and monocytes, whereas GL-S showed a mild suppressive effect. Both extracts could stimulate Th1 and Th2 cytokine mRNA expression, but GL-M was a relatively stronger Th1 stimulator. Different from GL-S, GL-M enhanced maturation of DCs in terms of upregulation of CD40, CD80, and CD86, and also reduced fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran endocytosis. Interestingly, GLM- treated DCs only modestly enhanced lymphocyte proliferation in allogenic mixed lymphocyte culture with mild enhancement in Th development.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings provide evidences that GL-M has immunomodulating effects on human immune cells and therefore can be used as a natural adjuvant for cancer immunotherapy with DCs.
Chan
Wing Keung
WK
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hong Kong Jockey Club Clinical Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
Lam
David Tai Wai
DT
Law
Helen Ka Wai
HK
Wong
Wing Tak
WT
Koo
Marcel Wing Leung
MW
Lau
Allan Sik Yin
AS
Lau
Yu Lung
YL
Chan
Godfrey Chi-Fung
GC
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020940:Reishi; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D012333:RNA, Messenger