Analysis of maturation of murine dendritic cells (DCs) induced by purified Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (GLPs)

Int J Biol Macromol. 2011 Nov 1;49(4):693-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2011.06.029. Epub 2011 Jul 7.

Abstract

To investigate and analyze induction of phenotypic and functional maturation of murine DCs by GLP. Both phenotypic and functional activities were assessed with use of conventional scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) for the morphology of the DCs, transmitted electron microscopy (TEM) for intracellular lysosomes inside the DC, cellular immunohistochemistry for phagocytosis by the DCs, flow cytometry (FCM) for the changes in key surface molecules, bio-assay for the activity of acid phosphatases (ACP), and ELISA for the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-12. It was found that GLP induced phenotypic maturation, as evidenced by increased expression of CD86, CD40, and MHC II. Functional experiments showed the down-regulation of ACP inside the DCs, which occurs when phagocytosis of DCs decreased, and antigen presentation increased with maturation. Finally, GLP increased the production of IL-12. These data reveals that GLP promotes effective activation of murine DCs. This adjuvant-like activity may have therapeutic applications in clinical settings that require a boosting of the immune response. Therefore concluded that GLP can exert positive induction to murine DCs at the used concentration.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acid Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects*
  • Cell Membrane / drug effects
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Shape / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology*
  • Dendritic Cells / drug effects*
  • Dendritic Cells / enzymology
  • Dendritic Cells / ultrastructure
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-12 / metabolism
  • Intracellular Space / drug effects
  • Intracellular Space / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / drug effects
  • Lysosomes / metabolism
  • Lysosomes / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Polysaccharides / isolation & purification*
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • Reishi / chemistry*
  • Up-Regulation / drug effects

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Polysaccharides
  • Interleukin-12
  • Acid Phosphatase