title: Induction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 by water-soluble components of Hericium erinaceum in human monocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hericium erinaceum is a medicinal mushroom that has been traditionally used in Asian countries for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. Although the immunomodulating activity of H. erinaceum is considered to be responsible for its medicinal activity, its action mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the capability of water-extracted H. erinaceum (WEHE) to induce the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), which regulates the migration of immune cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  THP-1, a human monocytic cell-line, or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were stimulated with WEHE (0-30 μg/mL) and subsequently analyzed using flow cytometry to examine the surface expression of ICAM-1 protein. Steady-state levels of ICAM-1 mRNA were estimated using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was conducted to examine transcription factors involved in ICAM-1 transcription.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WEHE induced ICAM-1 expression at both protein and mRNA levels in THP-1 cells in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. A similar pattern of ICAM-1 induction was also observed in CD14(+) monocytes in human PBMC that were stimulated with WEHE. The ICAM-1 expression on THP-1 cells stimulated with WEHE was suppressed by specific inhibitors for extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, exposure of THP-1 cells to WEHE increased the DNA binding activities of NF-κB, AP-1, SP-1 and STAT-1 transcription factors, all of which are known to be required for ICAM-1 gene expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that WEHE induces ICAM-1 expression in human monocytes through ERK- and ROS-dependent signaling pathways, resulting in the subsequent activations of NF-κB, AP-1, SP-1, and STAT-1 transcription factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology & Immunology, Dental Research Institute, and BK21 Program, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul 110-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Jintaek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: Seok-Seong
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jung Nam
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyang Ran
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.forename: Cheol-Heui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Chang Gue
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Choong Hwan
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D020834:Ethnopharmacology; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D055670:Medicine, Korean Traditional; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D056910:Republic of Korea; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014867:Water; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D004247:DNA; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases