An extract of Agaricus blazei Murill administered orally promotes immune responses in murine leukemia BALB/c mice in vivo.
OBJECTIVE
The edible mushroom (fungus) Agaricus blazei Murill (ABM) is a health food in many countries. Importantly, it has been shown to have antitumor and immune effects. There is no available information on ABM-affected immune responses in leukemia mice in vivo. Experimental Design. In this study, the authors investigated the immunopotentiating activities of boiled water-soluble extracts from desiccated ABM in WEHI-3 leukemia mice. The major characteristic of WEHI-3 leukemia mice are enlarged spleens and livers after intraperitoneal injection with murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells. Isolated T cells from spleens of ABM-treated mice resulted in increased T-cell proliferation compared with the untreated control with concanavalin A stimulation.


RESULTS
ABM decreased the spleen and liver weights when compared with WEHI-3 leukemia mice and this effect was a dose-dependent response. ABM promoted natural killer cell activity and phagocytosis by macrophage/monocytes in leukemia mice in a dose-dependent manner. ABM also enhanced cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and interferon-γ levels but reduced the level of IL-4 in WEHI-3 leukemia mice. Moreover, ABM increased the levels of CD3 and CD19 but decreased the levels of Mac-3 and CD11b in leukemia mice.


CONCLUSIONS
The ABM extract is likely to stimulate immunocytes and regulate immune response in leukemia mice in vivo.
China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Jaung-Geng
JG
Lin
Ming-Jen
MJ
Fan
Nou-Ying
NY
Tang
Jai-Sing
JS
Yang
Te-Chun
TC
Hsia
Jen-Jyh
JJ
Lin
Kuang-Chi
KC
Lai
Rick Sai-Chuen
RS
Wu
Chia-Yu
CY
Ma
W Gibson
WG
Wood
Jing-Gung
JG
Chung
D000364:Agaricus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000276:immunology; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007378:Interleukins / Q000276:immunology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D007378:Interleukins; C036763:monocyte-macrophage differentiation antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma