title: The differential immunological activities of Ganoderma lucidum on human pre-cancerous uroepithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ganoderma lucidum is active to stimulate immunological effector cells, but the effects on uroepithelial cells have never been explored. The present study compared the expression of major cytokines induced by the water (GLw) and ethanol (GLe) extracts of G. lucidum.
  
  
  METHODS
  The pre-cancerous human uroepithelial cell (HUC-PC) line was employed. A total of 15 cytokines, including major Th1/Th2 cytokines and chemokines, were measured in the complete media after 24h incubation with GLw and GLe. Additionally, the following assays were performed: cytotoxicity, apoptosis, migration of neutrophils, and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) DNA binding activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GLe inhibited the growth of HUC-PC cells through apoptosis. Interleukins IL-2, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly up-regulated by GLe in dose-dependent manners, but not by GLw. However, MCP-1 level was significantly increased by GLw but was oppositely reduced by GLe. Furthermore, the elevation of cytokine expression was correlated with the enhancement of p50/p65 NF-κB activity induced by GLe. The elevated IL-8 levels in GLe-treated cells were also correlated with the migration of neutrophils.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLe and GLw exhibited different immunological activities on the HUC-PC cells. In particular, the activities of GLe may favor the clearance of high risk urothelial cells, suggesting potent chemopreventive ingredients are extractable by ethanol from G. lucidum.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: J W M
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yuen
authors.forename: M D I
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Gohel
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Ng
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D020940:Reishi; D014571:Urologic Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019459:Urothelium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D001688:Biological Products; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D016328:NF-kappa B