Hericium erinaceum induces maturation of dendritic cells derived from human peripheral blood monocytes.
Hericium erinaceum, a medicinal mushroom, has long been used as a therapeutic due to its immuno-regulating potentials eliciting anticarcinogenic and antimicrobial efficacies. Since maturation of dendritic cells (DC) is an important process in the initiation and regulation of immune responses, the ability of water-soluble components from H. erinaceum (WEHE) to regulate DC maturation was investigated. Immature DC were prepared by differentiating human peripheral blood CD14-positive cells with GM-CSF and IL-4. DC were stimulated with WEHE at 2-20 microg/mL for 48 h and subjected to flow cytometric analysis to determine the expression of indicative maturation markers. The endocytic capacity of WEHE-stimulated DC was examined by a Dextran-FITC uptake assay. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to examine the secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-12p40. DC stimulated with WEHE showed representative features upon DC maturation: enhanced expression of CD80, CD83 and CD86, and both MHC class I and II molecules, decreased endocytic capacity of DC, increased expression of CD205, and decreased expression of CD206. However, interestingly, WEHE could not induce the production of TNF-alpha and IL-12p40, whereas lipopolysaccharide substantially increased the production of both cytokines. Collectively, these results suggest that H. erinaceum induces the maturation of human DC, which might reinforce the host innate immune system.
Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Dental Research Institute, and BK21 Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-749, Korea.
Sun Kyung
SK
Kim
Chang Gue
CG
Son
Cheol-Heui
CH
Yun
Seung Hyun
SH
Han
D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha