title: Regulation of the exopolysaccharide from an anamorph of Cordyceps sinensis on dendritic cell sarcoma (DCS) cell line.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cordyceps sinensis has been regarded as a precious tonic food and herbal medicine in China for thousands of years. The exopolysaccharide (EPS) from an anamorph of Cordyceps sinensis was found to have antitumor immunomodulatory activity. Mature dendritic cells play a role in initiating antitumor immunity, so we try to investigate the effects of EPS on the murine dendritic cell line DCS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Flow cytometry was used to assay the expression levels of cell surface molecules including major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 of DCS cells and their ability to take up antigens. The ability of DCS cells to activate the proliferation of CTLL-2 T cells was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. IL-12 and TNF-α levels were detected using ELISA. Western blotting was performed to estimate the levels of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and p105.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EPS increased the expressions of MHC-II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 of DCS cells and up-regulated their ability to take up antigens. EPS also enhanced their ability to activate the proliferation of CTLL-2 T cells. IL-12 and TNF-α secreted from DCS cells were up-regulated after EPS treatment. Furthermore, EPS significantly caused the decline of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, significantly increased levels of NF-κB p65 in the nucleus and decreased levels of NF-κB p105 in the cytoplasm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EPS may induce DCS cells to exhibit mature characteristics, and the mechanism involved is probably related to the inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3 signal pathway and promotion of the NF-κB signal pathway.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School and State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Zhenyue
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Chenhao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fengjiao
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Weiyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018122:B7-1 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051940:B7-2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000378:metabolism*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056747:Immunomodulation; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018122:B7-1 Antigen; D051940:B7-2 Antigen; D019013:CD40 Antigens; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12; C507926:Jak2 protein, mouse; D053614:Janus Kinase 2