title: Polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake and Lentinus edodes enhance 5-fluorouracil-mediated H22 cell growth inhibition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Few studies have investigated the effects produced by combinations of polysaccharides and chemotherapeutic drugs in cancer treatment. We hypothesized that a combination of polysaccharides (COP) from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake would improve the efficacy of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-mediated inhibition of H22 cell growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were injected H22 cells and then treated with either 5-FU, polysaccharides from Tricholoma matsutake (PTM), polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes (PL), PTM+PL, 5-FU+PTM, 5-FU+ PL, or 5-FU + COP. The tumor weight and volume, and splenic CD4 + and CD8 + T cell frequencies, were determined. Additionally, splenic natural killer (NK) cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activities were assessed and the serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), Interleukin-2 (IL-2), and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with mice from the control, 5-FU, PL, PTM, PTM + PL, 5-FU + PL, and 5-FU + PTM groups, mice treated with 5-FU + COP showed: (a) significantly reduced tumor weight and volume (P < 0.05); (b) significantly higher serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IFN-gamma (P < 0.05); (c) significantly increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell frequencies in the spleen (P < 0.05); and (d) significantly increased splenic NK cell and CTL activities (P < 0.05). The tumor weight and volume in mice treated with 5-FU+PL or 5-FU+PTM were significantly reduced compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone (P < 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IFN-gamma, frequencies of CD4 + and CD8+ T cells in the spleen, and splenic NK and CTL activities were also significantly increased in mice treated with 5-FU+PL or 5-FU+PTM compared with mice treated with 5-FU alone (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Polysaccharides from Lentinus edodes and Tricholoma matsutake could enhance the efficacy of 5-FU-mediated H22 cell growth inhibition.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Lingyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Xiaoshi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Zhixing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Shuping
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056747:Immunomodulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020942:Shiitake Mushrooms / Q000737:chemistry*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D055439:Tricholoma / Q000737:chemistry*; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; D005472:Fluorouracil