title: [Immunomodulatory effects of Fomes fomentarius polysaccharides: an experimental study in mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of Fomes fomentarius polysaccharides (FFP) in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  MTT assay was employed to evaluate the in vitro metabolic activity of the mouse splenocytes treated with FFP at different concentrations, and the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (INF-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) from the cells were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The changes in the phagocytotic activity of mouse macrophage in response to FFP treatment were evaluated by phagocytosis percentage of chicken red blood cells (CRBCs). The effect of FFP on the humoral immunity was assessed in mice immunized with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) by measuring the serum levels of specific antibody (hemolysin) against SRBCs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FFP at the concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 microg/ml all significantly enhanced the metabolic activity of mouse splenocytes in vitro and increased the production of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-2. FFP treatment also markedly enhanced the metabolic activity of mouse peritoneal exudate cells and TNF-alpha production by the cells. At the doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, FFP significantly increased serum hemolysin level in mice immunized with SRBCs, and FFP at 50 and 100 mg/kg obviously increased the capacity of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vivo for CRBC phagocytosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FFP can promote the secretion of TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-2 by mouse immunocytes and enhance mouse humoral immune response and the phagocytotic activity of the macrophages.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. btslq10@163.com
authors.forename: Hui-Ling
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Lin-Sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Chuan-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zheng-Guang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Na-Na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shu-Guang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D055453:Coriolaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma