title: Immunomodulatory effect of exo-polysaccharides from submerged cultured Cordyceps sinensis: enhancement of cytokine synthesis, CD11b expression, and phagocytosis.
abstract: Cordyceps sinensis is widely used as a traditional medicine for treatment of a wide variety of diseases or to maintain health. The immunomodulatory activity of polysaccharides prepared from submerged cultured C. sinensis BCRC36421 was investigated in human peripheral blood. Results demonstrated that Fr. A (exo-polysaccharides, 0.025 approximately 0.1 mg/ml) induced the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 dose-dependently. Fr. A, as low as 0.025 mg/ml, could significantly augment surface expression of CD11b in monocytes and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Functional assay revealed that Fr. A (0.05 mg/ml) also elevated phagocytosis in monocytes and PMN. On the other hand, Fr. B (intracellular polysaccharides) only moderately induced TNF-alpha release, CD11b expression, and phagocytosis at the same concentrations. Our results indicate that the immunomodulatory components of submerged cultured C. sinensis mainly reside in the culture filtrate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, Chia-Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, 717, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Chien-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tso-Lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ming-Jiuan
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D039481:CD11b Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D039481:CD11b Antigen; D016207:Cytokines; C509295:ITGAM protein, human; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D011134:Polysaccharides