Immunostimulatory Effects of Cordyceps militaris on Macrophages through the Enhanced Production of Cytokines via the Activation of NF-kappaB.
BACKGROUND
Cordyceps militaris has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and has been reported to possess both antitumor and immunomodulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. However, the pharmacological and biochemical mechanisms of Cordyceps militaris extract (CME) on macrophages have not been clearly elucidated. In the present study, we examined how CME induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines, transcription factor, and the expression of co-stimulatory molecules.


METHODS
We confirmed the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines through RT-PCR and western blot analysis, followed by a FACS analysis for surface molecules.


RESULTS
CME dose dependently increased the production of NO and proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and PGE(2), and it induced the protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, and proinflammatory cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as ICAM-1, B7-1, and B7-2 was also enhanced by CME. Furthermore, the activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-kappaB in macrophages was stimulated by CME.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these observations, CME increased proinflammatory cytokines through the activation of NF-kappaB, further suggesting that CME may prove useful as an immune-enhancing agent in the treatment of immunological disease.
College of Pharmacy, Sahmyook University, Seoul 139-742, Korea.
Seulmee
S
Shin
Jeonghak
J
Kwon
Sungwon
S
Lee
Hyunseok
H
Kong
Seungjeong
S
Lee
Chong-Kil
CK
Lee
Kyunghae
K
Cho
Nam-Joo
NJ
Ha
Kyungjae
K
Kim