A galactomannoglucan derived from Agaricus brasiliensis: Purification, characterization and macrophage activation via MAPK and IκB/NFκB pathways.

In this study, a novel galactomannoglucan named as TJ2 was isolated from Agaricus brasiliensis with microwave extraction, macroporous resin, ion exchange resin and high resolution gel chromatography. TJ2 is composed of glucose, mannose and galactose in the ratio 99.2:0.2:0.6. Infrared spectra (IR), methylation analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra indicated that TJ2 mainly contained a ß-(1→3) - linked glucopyranosyl backbone. Interestingly, TJ2 significantly promoted RAW264.7 cell proliferation, and was able to activate the cells to engulf E. coli. In addition, TJ2 induced the expression of Interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) in the cells. TJ2 also promoted the production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Moreover, TJ2 is a potent inducer in activating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B (IκB)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) pathways.

Royal Sun Medicinal Mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis (Agaricomycetidae), Derived Polysaccharides Exert Immunomodulatory Activities In Vitro and In Vivo.

The royal sun mushroom, Agaricus brasiliensis is a widely consumed mushroom around the world. In this study, the immunoregulatory potential of A. brasiliensis polysaccharides was investigated in vitro and in vivo. In vivo, the polysaccharides remarkably increased the spleen and thymus indexes in mice, and this effect was influenced significantly by age (the adult and the juvenile). The spleen index increased by 27.28% in adult mice treated with the polysaccharides, whereas the increase in juvenile mice was just 12.59% at the dose of 150 mg·kg-1·d-1. Moreover, the effect of the polysaccharides on the thymus and spleen indexes in adult mice was obvious both in males and females. The carbon clearance ability (phagocytic index) was improved with increasing doses, (32.81% at 120 mg·kg-1·d-1, and 38.34% at 150 mg·kg-1·d-1) in mice treated with the polysaccharides. In vitro, the polysaccharides increased the RAW264.7 cell proliferation with 34.78% at 25 µg/mL and 26.78% at 50 µg/mL. Furthermore, the polysaccharides also promoted mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, cyclooxygenase-2, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation 88 (MYD88), and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-ß (TRIF) in the cells, indicating that the polysaccharides induce the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by stimulating TLR4/MyD88 and TLR4/TRIF pathways. In conclusion, these results suggest that A. brasiliensis polysaccharides induce a very promising immunostimulation effect in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, it should be explored as a novel natural functional food additive.

Human FcRn can mediate the transport across intestinal mucosal barrier and prolong the half-life of rabbit IgG in vivo

FcRn (neonatal Fc receptor) plays an important role in IgG transportation, antigen presentation and signal transmission. In this study, the complement fixation test and flow cytometry test were performed to verify whether the heterologous antibody could be transmitted to the serum or leukocyte with FcγR (Fc gamma receptor) across the intestinal mucosa. The results showed that rabbit anti-bovine IgG could be detected in both the serum and the leukocytes, which indicated that the heterologous antibody could transport across the intestinal mucosa to enter the blood and be effectively delivered to the leukocytes with FcγR. In addition, the results also showed that the rabbit anti-bovine IgG still could be detected in the leukocyte group (P=0.044<0.05) after 21 days. It indicated that the rabbit IgG could exist in the body for a long term (up to 21 days) after being transported to the cells containing FcγR.