title: Inonotus obliquus extracts suppress antigen-specific IgE production through the modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokines in ovalbumin-sensitized mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus, IO) has been used as a folk remedy for cancer, digestive system diseases, and other illnesses in Russia and Eastern Europe.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulating effects of IO through in vivo and ex vivo studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum immunoglobulins (IgE, IgG(1), and IgG(2a)) and cytokines (interleukin (IL)-4, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-2) were measured in concanavalin A (ConA)-stimulated splenocytes and CD4(+) T cells. The nitric oxide (NO) secretion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated peritoneal macrophages was also measured after oral administration of 50, 100, or 200 mg kg(-1) d(-1) IO hot water extract (IOE) to ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that the OVA-induced increase in serum IgE and IgG(2a) was significantly suppressed when IOE was orally administered after the second immunization with OVA. ConA stimulation in spleen cells isolated from OVA-sensitized mice treated with 100 mg kg(-1) IOE resulted in a 25.2% decrease in IL-4 production and a 102.4% increase in IFN-γ, compared to the controls. Moreover, IL-4, IFN-γ, and IL-2 were significantly reduced after ConA stimulation in isolated CD4(+)T cells. We also determined that IOE inhibits the secretion of NO from LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages ex vivo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that IO modulates immune responses through secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines in immune cells and regulates antigen-specific antibody production.
authors.affiliation: Lab of Hygienic Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Sookmyung Women's University, 52 Hyochangwon-gil, Youngsan-ku, Seoul 140-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suk-kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Mirim
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Myoung-yun
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Pyo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000363:Agaricales / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D010581:Peyer's Patches / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015847:Interleukin-4; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin