title: Preferential induction of Th17 cells in vitro and in vivo by Fucogalactan from Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi).
abstract: The mushroom known as Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) has been used as an herbal medicine for tumor treatment and immune system activation. Because its effects on the differentiation of effector T helper cells have not yet been fully understood, we investigated the effects of Reishi and those of its principal ingredient, β-glucan, on the activation of dendritic cells and the differentiation of Th17 cells. Reishi extracts as well as purified β-glucan (Curdran) activated DCs and caused them to produce large amounts of IL-23. β-glucan also enhanced and sustained the transcription of IL-23p19. The MEK-ERK signaling pathway positively regulates IL-23p19 transcription in β-glucan-stimulated DCs. In a mixed leukocyte reaction, Reishi-stimulated DCs preferentially induced Th17 cells. Furthermore, orally-administrated Reishi increased the percentages of Th17 cells and the transcription levels of antimicrobial peptides. Our results show that Reishi and β-glucan activate DCs to produce large amounts of IL-23, which induces Th17 differentiation both in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Mayu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Ryota
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sakaguchi
authors.forename: Ito
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kotani
authors.forename: Norimasa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shudo
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005685:Galactans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000378:metabolism; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19 / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D020940:Reishi / Q000737:chemistry*; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D005685:Galactans; D053759:Interleukin-23; D053760:Interleukin-23 Subunit p19; D047071:beta-Glucans; D018664:Interleukin-12; C038459:curdlan; C031159:fucogalactan