title: Immune activation by a sterile aqueous extract of Cordyceps sinensis: mechanism of action.
abstract: Cordyceps sinensis is a fungus that has been used for over 2,000 years in China as a treatment for a variety of conditions including infectious diseases. The available evidence suggests a hypothesis that any efficacy of C. sinensis as an anti-infective therapeutic would be related to a role as an activator of innate immune responses. The objectives of this study were first to investigate the ability of C. sinensis to activate pro-inflammatory responses in macrophages in vitro and induce protective responses against intracellular pathogens in vivo, and second to characterize a method of action. We found that C. sinensis activates murine macrophages to produce a variety of pro-inflammatory cytokines. IFN-gamma synergizes with C. sinensis to amplify this response. Bacterial endotoxin contamination was ruled out as a potential artefact. The evidence presented in this study supports a hypothesis that C. sinensis activates macrophages by engaging Toll-like receptors and inducing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways characteristic of inflammatory stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jordan
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: T D G
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000737:chemistry*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition / Q000187:drug effects; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; D051192:Receptors, Pattern Recognition; D014020:Tissue Extracts; D014867:Water; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases