Ganoderma lucidum Polysaccharides Reduce Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Interleukin-1 β Expression in Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells and in Thoracic Aortas in Mice.
The expression of inflammatory cytokines on vascular walls is a critical event in vascular diseases and inflammation. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum (Reishi) polysaccharides (EORPs), which is effective against immunological disorders, on interleukin- (IL-) 1 β expression by human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) and the underlying mechanism. The lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced IL-1 β expression was significantly reduced when HASMCs were pretreated with EORP by Western blot and immunofluorescent staining. Pretreatment with 10  μ g/mL EORP decreased LPS-induced ERK, p38, JNK, and Akt phosphorylation. But the increase in IL-1 β expression with LPS treatment was only inhibited by pretreatment with the ERK1/2 inhibitor, while the JNK and p38 inhibitors had no effect. In addition, EORP reduced the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor- (NF-) κ B p65 in LPS-treated HASMCs. Furthermore, in vivo, IL-1 β expression was strongly expressed in thoracic aortas in LPS-treated mice. Oral administration of EORP decreased IL-1 β expression. The level of IL-1 β expression in LPS-treated or in LPS/EORP-treated group was very low and was similar to that of the saline-treated group in toll-like receptor 4-deficient (TLR4(-/-)) mice. These findings suggest that EORP has the anti-inflammatory property and could prove useful in the prevention of vascular diseases and inflammatory responses.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Ren-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Chan-Jung
CJ
Liang
Department of Nursing, Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Chiayi Campus, Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan 303, Taiwan.
Chiang-Wen
CW
Lee
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Ren-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan ; Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
Hsin-Ching
HC
Sung
Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Yung-Hsiang
YH
Chen
Center for Drug Abuse and Addiction, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Yao-Chang
0000-0002-7619-1902
YC
Chiang
Institute of Biotechnology in Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
Hsien-Yeh
HY
Hsu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hsinchu Cathay General Hospital, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
Ying-Chin
YC
Tseng
Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
Chi-Yuan
CY
Li
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Ren-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Shu-Huei
SH
Wang
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Section 1, Ren-Ai Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.
Yuh-Lien
0000-0002-6498-4008
YL
Chen