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Oh, Pae, Choi, Kwon, Yun, Choi, Kwon, Park, and Chung: Effects of Oral Administration of Phellinus linteus on the Productions of the Th1- and Th2-type Cytokines in Mice

Abstract

Background

The mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL) has been shown to have the anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects. We hypothesized that the hot water extract of PL (WEPL) exerts its significant immunostimulatory effect by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by T lymphocytes.

Methods

T lymphocytes were isolated from the mice fed with 200 mg/kg of WEPL once a day for 4 weeks, and then stimulated with the mitogen concanavaline A (Con A). IFN-γ gene and intracellular protein expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The production of IFN-γ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

WEPL significantly enhanced the transcription of IFN-γ mRNA. The effect of WEPL on IFN-γ expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracellular IFN-γ protein as well as the secretion of IFN-γ. However, WEPL did not modulate either gene expression or protein secretion of interleukin-4, a Th2-associated cytokine, by Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that one of the potentially beneficial anti-tumor and immunostimulatory effects of WEPL may be mediated through the enhancement of IFN-γ secretion by T lymphocytes.

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