Agaricus brasiliensispolysaccharides stimulate human monocytes to captureCandida albicans,express toll-like receptors 2 and 4, and produce pro-inflammatory cytokines.
BACKGROUND
Agaricus brasiliensisis a medicinal mushroom with immunomodulatory and antitumor activities attributed to the β-glucans presented in the polysaccharide fraction of its fruiting body. Since β-glucans enhance cellular immunoresponsiveness, in this study we aimed to evaluate the effect of an acid-treated polysaccharide-rich fraction (ATF) ofA. brasiliensison the ability of human monocytes to adhere/phagocyteC. albicansyeast cells, their expression of pattern recognition receptors and their ability to produce cytokines.


METHODS
Adhesion/phagocytosis of FITC-labeledC. albicanswas evaluated by flow cytometry. Cells were incubated with specific fluorochrome-labeled antibodies for TLR2 and 4, βGR and MR and also evaluated by flow cytometry. Monocytes were cultured with ATF, and culture supernatants were collected for analysis of in vitro cytokine production by ELISA (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-12 and IL-10).


RESULTS
ATF significantly increased the adherence/phagocytosis ofC. albicansby monocytes and this was associated with enhanced expression of TLR2 and TLR4, while no effect was observed on βGR or MR. Moreover, expression of TLR4 and TLR2 was associated with higher levels of in vitro production of TNF-α and IL-1, respectively. Production of IL-10 was also increased by ATF treatment, but we found no association between its production and the expression of Toll-like receptors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results provided us with evidence thatA. brasiliensispolysaccharides affect human monocytes probably through the modulation of Toll-like receptors.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.|Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.
Priscila Raquel
PR
Martins
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.
Ângela Maria Victoriano
ÂMV
de Campos Soares
Department of Pathology, Paulista Central University Center (UNICEP), São Carlos, SP Brazil.
Andrea Vanessa
AV
da Silva Pinto Domeneghini
Blood Bank Division, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.
Márjorie Assis
MA
Golim
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Botucatu Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista), Botucatu, SP Brazil.
Ramon
R
Kaneno
Agaricus blazei; Agaricus brasiliensis; Monocytes; Pattern recognition receptors (PPR); Toll-like receptors