PSK and Trx80 inhibit B-cell growth in EBV-infected cord blood mononuclear cells through T cells activated by the monocyte products IL-15 and IL-12.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific immunologic memory is not transferred from mother to child. In vitro infection of cord blood cells can therefore readily lead to the outgrowth of transformed B lymphocytes. We found that the immunomodulator polysaccharide K (PSK) or the mitogenic cytokine truncated thioredoxin (Trx80) inhibited the EBV-induced B-cell proliferation. Using signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM)-associated protein (SAP) induction as a sign for T- and natural killer (NK) cell activation, we could follow it without any need for cell separation because neither macrophages nor B lymphocytes express SAP. The results suggest the following scenario: EBV infected and activated B lymphocytes. Upon interacting with these cells, T cells became posed for responding to cytokines produced by monocytes. Both PSK and Trx80, which is a secreted C-terminally truncated thioredoxin, activated the monocytes, which then produced cytokines in the presence of the primed T cells. PSK induced interleukin-15 (IL-15), while Trx80 induced IL-12 production. Both cytokines activated the T cells for function. Phosphatidylinositol 3-(PI 3)-kinase and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) were involved in the PSK-induced activation of monocytes. Restimulation of the cultures with EBV-transformed B cells generated specific cytotoxic activity.
Regulatory properties of polysaccharopeptide derived from Coriolus versicolor and its combined effect with ciclosporin on the homeostasis of human lymphocytes
OBJECTIVES:
Lymphocyte homoeostasis is essential in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In search of natural fungal metabolites with effects on lymphocyte homoeostasis, we recently reported that polysaccharopeptide (PSP) from Coriolus versicolor exhibited ciclosporin-like activity in controlling aberrant lymphocyte activation. This object of this study was to investigate its effect on lymphocyte homoeostasis. This was done by investigating the mechanistic actions of PSP in relation to ciclosporin by performing cell cycle and cell death analysis of human lymphocytes in vitro.
METHODS:
We investigated the effect of PSP in the presence and absence of ciclosporin on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell death, immunophenotype and cell cycle regulatory proteins in human lymphocytes.
KEY FINDINGS:
The data showed that PSP exhibited homoeostatic activity by promoting and inhibiting the proliferation of resting and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated lymphocytes, respectively. PHA-stimulated lymphocytes exhibited G0/G1 cell cycle arrest that was accompanied by a reduction of cyclin E expression with PSP treatment. Both PSP and ciclosporin blocked the reduction of the CD4/CD8 ratio in stimulated lymphocytes. PSP did not induce cell death in human lymphocytes, but the suppression of the Fasreceptor suggested a protective role of PSP against extrinsic cell death signals. These homoeostatic effects were more potent with combined PSP and ciclosporin treatment than with either fungal metabolite alone.
CONCLUSIONS:
Collectively, the results reveal certain novel effects of PSP in lymphocyte homoeostasis and suggest potential as a specific immunomodulatory adjuvant for clinical applications in the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Polysaccharopeptide from the mushroom Coriolus versicolor possesses analgesic activity but does not produce adverse effects on female reproductive or embryonic development in mice.
Coriolus versicolor polysaccharopeptide has been reported to exert immunomodulatory and antitumor actions. The present study showed that it exhibits analgesic activity in the hot-plate test upon intraperitoneal administration to ICR mice. It did not affect ovarian steroidogenesis, ovulation and midterm gestation in mice. It did not exert an adverse effect on mouse embryonic development either, as evidenced by the lack of an effect on somite number, axial length and the incidence of abnormalities in heartbeat, yolk sac circulation, optic vesicle, otic vesicle, shape of body axis, forelimb buds, branchial apparatus, cranial neural tube and head size. Its analgesic activity would add to its attribute as an immunomodulatory and antitumor drug.
Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome
Coriolus was used for its effects on host defence potentiation. Patients were examined and a number of the abnormal findings that are remarked in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome were noted, such as lymphadenopathy and pharyngitis.
Coriolus versicolor: a medicinal mushroom with promising immunotherapeutic values.
Se estudi� el efecto inmunomodulador, antitumoral y antimicrobiano del extracto de Coriolus Versicolor y los compuestos bioactivos que ejercen estas funciones, asi como posibles contraindicaciones o efectos adversos.
Polysaccharopeptide from Coriolus versicolor has potential for use against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
Polisacarop�ptidos (PSP) aislados a partir del hongo comestible Coriolus versicolor fueron estudiados con el fin de comprobar su potencial como un anti-virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana tipo 1 (VIH-1). Sus mecanismos antivirales, junto con la elevada solubilidad en agua, la termoestabilidad y la baja citotoxicidad, la convierten en una potente herramienta como agente anti-viral en vivo