title: Immunomodulatory properties of Xylaria nigripes in peritoneal macrophage cells of Balb/c mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Wu Ling Shen, a folklore name for Xylaria nigripes (XN), is a high value medicinal fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to examine the immunomodulatory properties of aqueous (XN-H) and ethanol (XN-E) XN extracts in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced peritoneal macrophage cells of Balb/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  After treating the macrophage cells with LPS (1 μg/ml) and different XN extracts, the immunomodulatory properties were determined by the responses of inflammatory mediators, namely nitrite oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ) production, iNOS, COX-2 and IκB-α expression, and NF-κB activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results showed that treatment of macrophages with 5-30 μg/ml of XN-H or XN-E plus 1 μg/ml LPS exhibited no cytotoxic effect on cell viability. At these concentrations, although both XN-H and XN-E showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on NO, PGE(2), IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ production in LPS-stimulated macrophages, a greater potency was noted in the XN-H treated group. RT-PCR assay also showed that XN-H possessed a greater inhibition than XN-E on iNOS and COX-2 RNA expression. Furthermore, XN-H also showed a significant stronger suppression than XN-E on the LPS-induced IκB-α phosphorylation and NF-κB activation. XN-E showed a higher total flavonoid and phenol contents but a lower β-glucan content than XN-H.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taken together, these results conclude that XN-H possesses a stronger anti-inflammatory activity than XN-E, and its mechanism of action could be mediated by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 expression via the NF-κB signaling pathway, and these activities could be contributed by the β-glucan content.
authors: Department of Food Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors: Huey-Jiun
authors: HJ
authors: Ko
authors: Airong
authors: A
authors: Song
authors: Min-Nan
authors: MN
authors: Lai
authors: Lean-Teik
authors: LT
authors: Ng
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D045424:Complex Mixtures / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013098:Xylariales
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D045424:Complex Mixtures; D016207:Cytokines; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C077623:Ptgs2 protein, mouse; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone