RESUMO
Agaricus blazei Murill is an edible fungus used in traditional medicine, which has various well-documented medicinal properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of hemicellulase-derived mycelia extract (Agaricus blazei fraction H: ABH) on the immune system. First, we examined the cytokine-inducing activity of ABH on human peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC). The results indicated that ABH induced expression of IL-12, a cytokine known to be a critical regulator of cellular immune responses. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated the induction of IL-12 production by the CD14-positive cell population, consisting of monocytes/macrophages (Mo/Mphi). Furthermore, the elimination of Mo/Mphi attenuated IL-12 production in PBMC. ABH-induced IL-12 production was inhibited by anti-CD14 and anti-TLR4 antibodies but not by anti-TLR2 antibody. The activity of ABH was not inhibited by polymyxin B, while the activity of lipopolysaccharide used as a reference was inhibited. Oral administration of ABH enhanced natural killer (NK) activity in the spleen. These findings suggest that ABH activated Mo/Mphi in a manner dependent on CD14/TLR4 and NK activity.
RESUMO
Primary malignant lymphoma of gastrointestinal tract is relatively rare and the most of it are seen in stomach or small intestine, and in Japan only 130 cases of primary large intestinal malignant lymphoma were reported from the accumulating results of the postoperative cases in the 11th Congress of the Japanese Research Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum. This paper describes the case report of the primary malignant lymphoma originated from the cecum, and the review of the literature. The patient was 63 year-old female, who came to this hospital for slight fever and right lower abdominal pain that was gradually increasing. After the investigation by using barium enema and the intrapelvic CT, cecum tumor was detected. The ileocecal excision was performed, and revealed the 4 X 4.5 cm tumorous type lesion of which surface was slightly irregular. Histopathologically the tumor was follicular lymphoma (partial type), medium sized cell type by the Lymphoma-leukemia Study Group (LSG) classification. After discharge, cyclophosphamide was administered by 100 mg/day for six weeks, and the sign of the recurrence has not been observed.