Soluble components of Hericium erinaceum induce NK cell activation via production of interleukin-12 in mice splenocytes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunoregulatory functions of water extracts of Hericium erinaceum (WEHE) focusing on natural killer (NK) cell-based anticancer activities.


METHODS
Mouse splenocytes or purely isolated NK cells were stimulated with 1-100 mg/L WEHE for 24 h followed by co-culture with (51)Cr-labeled Yac-1 cells for 4 h, then NK cell-derived cytolytic activity was measured using a radio-release assay. Neutralizing antibodies against mouse interleukin-12 (IL-12) were added into the WEHE-stimulated splenocytes, thereafter, cytotoxicity was measured to examine the involvement of IL-12. RT-PCR and ELISA analyses were performed to confirm the induction of transcription and the translation of IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the WEHE-treated splenocytes.


RESULTS
WEHE enhanced the cytolytic activity of total splenocytes towards Yac-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, this activation was not observed when the NK cells isolated from the splenocytes were treated with WEHE. Furthermore, the treatment with antibodies against IL-12 abolished the effect of WEHE on splenocyte-derived cytolytic activity. RT-PCR and ELISA analyses showed the induction of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in the WEHE-treated splenocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
WEHE indirectly activates the cytolytic ability of NK cells via the induction of IL-12 in total splenocytes, and possibly via other immuno-mediators or cellular components.
Yim
Myung-Hyun
MH
East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon 302-122, Korea.
Shin
Jang-Woo
JW
Son
Jin-Young
JY
Oh
Se-Mi
SM
Han
Seung-Hyun
SH
Cho
Jung-Hyo
JH
Cho
Chong-Kwan
CK
Yoo
Hwa-Seung
HS
Lee
Yeon-Weol
YW
Son
Chang-Gue
CG
D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma