title: Mycelia extracts of fungal strains isolated from Cordyceps sinensis differently enhance the function of RAW 264.7 macrophages.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cordyceps sinensis, an entomogenous fungus used in traditional Chinese medicine with multiple pharmacological activities. However, its usage has been limited due to the high price and short supply. Isolate of fungi strains from natural Cordyceps sinensis to achieve a large-scale production by fermentation is an alternative choice. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of mycelia extracts of different fungal stains isolated from natural Cordyceps sinensis on macrophage functions in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Macrophages' proliferation, phagocytosis, nitric oxide (NO) production, cytokines secretion, iNOS, NF-κB p65 activation and translocation were investigated by the MTT assay, flow cytometry assay, Griess reagent method, ELISA, western blot and immunostaining assay, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the effects of cultured Cordyceps mycelia of different fungal strains isolated from natural Cordyceps sinensis on macrophages greatly variant. Among 17 Cordyceps aqueous extracts, only five extracts (UM01, QH11, BNQM, GNCC and DCXC) could significantly increase cell proliferation and NO production of RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages. Moreover, the five extracts, especially UM01 and QH11, significantly enhanced phagocytosis and promoted cytokines release of macrophages. Polysaccharides in cultured UM01 mycelia were found to be the main immune stimulating compounds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The variation of biological effects of fermented mycelia of different fungal strains from natural Cordyceps sinensis may be derived from their chemical diversity, especially polysaccharides, which need further study in future.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
authors.forename: Lan-Zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Bao-Qin
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: De-Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Lan-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kit-Leong
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Shao-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D025282:Mycelium; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D016207:Cytokines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse
keywords: 3-(4, 5-dimethylthazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide; AE; CP; Cordyceps sinensis; Cultured Cordyceps; DMEM; Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium; FBS; IL; Immuno-potentiation activity; LPS; MTT; NO; PBS; RAW 264.7 macrophages; SM; TNF-α; aqueous extract; crude polysaccharides; fetal bovine serum; interleukin; lipopolysaccharide; nitric oxide; phosphate-buffered saline; small molecular compounds; tumor necrosis factor-α