Armillariella mellea induces maturation of human dendritic cells without induction of cytokine expression.
BACKGROUND
Armillariella mellea, an edible and medicinal mushroom possessing immuno-modulating potential, has been frequently used for the treatment of infectious diseases or cancers.


OBJECTIVE
In order to elucidate immune-regulatory mechanisms of Armillariella mellea, we investigated the effect of water-soluble components from Armillariella mellea (AME) on the regulation of human dendritic cell (DC) maturation and activation.


METHODS
Immature DCs (iDCs) were prepared by differentiating human peripheral blood CD14-positive cells with GM-CSF and IL-4. Then, iDCs were treated with AME at 2-20 microg/ml for 48 h and subjected to flow cytometry to analyze the expression of DC markers. Dextran-FITC uptake assay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed to examine the endocytic capacity of AME-stimulated DC and their production of cytokines, respectively.


RESULTS
iDCs stimulated with AME showed representative features during DC maturation such as up-regulated expression of CD80, CD83, CD86, both MHC class I and II molecules, and CD205, with a simultaneous decrease in the expression of CD206 and the endocytic capacity. Interestingly, AME was not able to induce the production of TNF-alpha, IL-12p40, or IL-10, whereas lipopolysaccharides induced a substantial increase of all of the cytokines.


CONCLUSIONS
Armillariella mellea induces maturation of human DCs through a unique mechanism without inducing cytokine expression.
Kim
Sun Kyung
SK
Department of Oral Microbiology & Immunology, Dental Research Institute and BK21 Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-749, Republic of Korea.
Im
Jintaek
J
Yun
Cheol-Heui
CH
Son
Jin Young
JY
Son
Chang Gue
CG
Park
Dong Ki
DK
Han
Seung Hyun
SH
D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003911:Dextrans; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D003911:Dextrans; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C015219:fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran; D016753:Interleukin-10; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate