Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides can induce human monocytic leukemia cells into dendritic cells with immuno-stimulatory function.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies demonstrated Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GL-PS), a form of bioactive beta-glucan can stimulate the maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC). The question of how leukemic cells especially in monocytic lineage respond to GL-PS stimuli remains unclear.


RESULTS
In this study, we used in vitro culture model with leukemic monocytic cell-lines THP-1 and U937 as monocytic effectors cells for proliferation responses and DCs induction. We treated the THP-1 and U937 cells with purified GL-PS (100 microg/mL) or GL-PS with GM-CSF/IL-4. GL-PS alone induced proliferative response on both THP-1 and U937 cells but only THP-1 transformed into typical DC morphology when stimulated with GL-PS plus GM-CSF/IL-4. The transformed THP-1 DCs had significant increase expression of HLA-DR, CD40, CD80 and CD86 though not as high as the extent of normal monocyte-derived DCs. They had similar antigen-uptake ability as the normal monocyte-derived DCs positive control. However, their potency in inducing allogeneic T cell proliferation was also less than that of normal monocyte-derived DCs.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggested that GL-PS could induce selected monocytic leukemic cell differentiation into DCs with immuno-stimulatory function. The possible clinical impact of using this commonly used medicinal mushroom in patients with monocytic leukemia (AML-M4 and M5) deserved further investigation.
Chan
Wing Keung
WK
Department of Paediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China. wingkc@graduate.hku.hk
Cheung
Christopher Ching Hang
CC
Law
Helen Ka Wai
HK
Lau
Yu Lung
YL
Chan
Godfrey Chi Fung
GC
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004705:Endocytosis; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000276:immunology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D011134:Polysaccharides; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor