title: Effects of mushroom-derived beta-glucan-rich polysaccharide extracts on nitric oxide production by bone marrow-derived macrophages and nuclear factor-kappaB transactivation in Caco-2 reporter cells: can effects be explained by structure?
abstract: Mushrooms are known for their immune-modulating and anti-tumour properties. The polysaccharide fraction, mainly beta-glucans, is responsible for the immune-modulating effects. Fungal beta-glucans have been shown to activate leukocytes, which depend on structural characteristics of beta-glucans. As edible mushrooms come in contact with the intestinal immune system, effects on enterocytes are also interesting. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of mushroom polysaccharide extracts varying in beta-glucan structure on nitric oxide production by bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) from mice and on nuclear factor-kappaB transactivation in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. We demonstrated that extracts from Agaricus bisporus stimulated nitric oxide production by BMM, whereas extracts from Coprinus comatus and spores of Ganoderma lucidum had only minor effects. Furthermore, extracts of A. blazei Murill and Phellinus linteus had no effect at all. Almost all mushroom extracts lowered nuclear factor-kappaB transactivation in Caco-2 cells. Structural analysis of A. bisporus compared with A. blazei Murill suggests that branching of the beta-glucan chain is essential for immune-stimulating activity. In conclusion, extracts from A. bisporus activate BMM, without activating enterocytes. These characteristics make A. bisporus an attractive candidate as a nutritional compound to stimulate the immune response in depressed states of immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Biology, Nutrition and Toxicology Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, NL-6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Julia J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Volman
authors.forename: Johannes P F G
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Helsper
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Johan J P
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Baars
authors.forename: Leo J L D
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: van Griensven
authors.forename: Anton S M
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sonnenberg
authors.forename: Ronald P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mensink
authors.forename: Jogchum
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plat
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D055951:Functional Food; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D015533:Transcriptional Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D047071:beta-Glucans; D009569:Nitric Oxide