Orally administered mycelial culture of Phellinus linteus exhibits antitumor effects in hepatoma cell-bearing mice.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of a mycelial culture from Phellinus linteus PL-7 (MCPL-7) and to elucidate its potential mechanism in vivo.


METHODS
SCID CB-17 mice received a transplant of Hep3B cells followed by daily MCPL-7 administrations for 8 weeks. Following tumor implantation, groups C-E were subcutaneously administered 50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, or 250 mg/kg MCPL-7 powder per day, respectively, for 8 weeks. Groups A and B received saline solution subcutaneously for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
MCPL-7 administration induced a significant reduction in tumor size and was associated with a significant increase in T cell numbers; IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-α secretion; NK cell activity; and phagocytic ability. Therefore, increased numbers of CD4(+) cells could have been caused by greater numbers of dendritic cells and macrophages in the spleen. Furthermore, the activation of dendritic cells and macrophages resulted in increased IL-12 secretion, which could upregulate NK cell activation. The increased secretion of IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α enhanced the activity and phagocytic ability of NK cells. Thus, MCPL-7 may provide a potential therapeutic approach for both immunomodulatory and antitumor effects.
Huang
Hui-Yu
HY
Department of Food Science, Nutrition, and Nutraceutical Biotechnology, Shih-Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chieh
Shih-Yung
SY
Tso
Tim K
TK
Chien
Ting-Yi
TY
Lin
Hsin-Tang
HT
Tsai
Ying-Chieh
YC
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001487:Basidiomycota / Q000737:chemistry; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016513:Mice, SCID; D025282:Mycelium; D010587:Phagocytosis; D000084682:Phellinus; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D013624:Taiwan; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; C526145:Phellinus linteus extract; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides