Radioprotective effects of Antrodia cinnamomea are enhanced on immune cells and inhibited on cancer cells.
Abstract Purpose: The radioprotective effects of Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) were investigated for understanding the potential usefulness of AC as an adjunct treatment for reducing radiation side-effects.


METHODS
In this study, we determined the ability of AC extracts (AC539) to reduce radiation side-effects by analyzing cellular viability in normal mouse spleen immune cells and human cancer cells with different radiosensitivity. We further detected the effect of AC on radiation-induced changes in cytokine- and inflammatory-related gene expressions. Furthermore, apoptosis assay was performed to determine whether AC could inhibit radiation-induced cytotoxicity.


RESULTS
We found that an AC dose of 100-150 μg/ml in a time-dependent manner was the most effective in blocking radiation-induced cytotoxicity, in vitro. Radiation-induced cytotoxicity was inhibited in spleen immune cells by 37-56%; however, pretreatment of human colorectal cancer cell line HT-29 with AC did not have any effect on radiation-induced cytotoxicity, while pretreatment of radiosensitive human breast cancer cell lines BT-474 with AC caused a moderate enhancement of radiation-induced damage. Furthermore, AC pretreatment differentially regulated the mRNA expression of several important immunomodulatory genes in response to irradiation in normal and cancer cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that AC may inhibit important immunoregulatory signaling which could be vital in the avoidance of an over-activated cytotoxic and inflammatory response of the immune system caused by radiation-induced tissue damage. Additionally, AC does not provide a radioprotective effect to tumor cells but instead enhances radiation-induced inflammation and cytotoxicity in cancer.
Department of Parasitology, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University , Taipei , Taiwan.
Po-Ching
PC
Cheng
Chun-Chih
CC
Huang
Ping-Fang
PF
Chiang
Ching-Nan
CN
Lin
Li-Li
LL
Li
Te-Wei
TW
Lee
Bin
B
Lin
I-Chen
IC
Chen
Kang-Wei
KW
Chang
Chia-Kwung
CK
Fan
Tsai-Yueh
TY
Luo
D000818:Animals; D055491:Antrodia / Q000737:chemistry*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000528:radiation effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000187:drug effects*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D016207:Cytokines; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents
Antrodia cinnamomea; apoptosis; cancer; radiation side-effects; radioprotection