Lentinula Edodes Mycelia extract regulates the function of antigen-presenting cells to activate immune cells and prevent tumor-induced deterioration of immune function.

Immune cell activation is essential for cancer rejection; however, the tumor microenvironment leads to deterioration of immune function, which enables cancer cells to survive and proliferate. We previously reported that oral ingestion of Lentinula Edodes Mycelia (L.E.M.) extract enhances the tumor antigen-specific T-cell response and exerts an antitumor effect in a tumor-bearing mouse model. In this study, we focused on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) located upstream of the immune system, induced a T-cell response, then examined the impact of L.E.M. extract on the APCs. L.E.M. extract enhanced the expression of MHC-I, MHC-II, CD86, CD80, and CD40 in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and strongly induced the production of IL-12. L.E.M.-stimulated DCs enhanced IFN-γ production from CD8+ T cells and induced their differentiation into effector cells. Furthermore, L.E.M. extract promoted IL-12 production and suppressed the production of IL-10 and TGF-ß by transforming bone marrow-derived macrophages into M1-like macrophages. Furthermore, in a B16F10 melanoma inoculation model, DCs in the spleen were decreased and their activation was suppressed by the presence of cancer; however, ingestion of L.E.M. extract prevented this functional deterioration of DCs. In the spleen of cancer-bearing mice, the number of CD11b- F4/80+ macrophages in a hypoactivated state was also increased, whereas L.E.M. extract suppressed the increase of such macrophages. These findings suggest that L.E.M. extract may exhibit an antitumor immune response by regulating the function of APCs to induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes, as well as by suppressing the decline in antigen-presenting cell activity caused by the presence of cancer.

Usefulness of the "Non-Slip Element" Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Balloon in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Arterial Lesions.

Purpose: To evaluate a new scoring balloon, the non-slip element (NSE) percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon, in the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions by comparing angiographic dissection patterns to those of a conventional balloon. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 71 symptomatic patients (mean age 77.4±8.8 years; 33 men) with de novo femoropopliteal lesions <20 cm long treated with balloon angioplasty between January 2017 and May 2018. Thirty-four patients were treated with 3 inflations of an NSE balloon and 37 patients were treated with a conventional balloon. Results: Severe dissections were fewer (8.8% vs 29.7%, p=0.027) and the total dissection length was shorter (11.5±12.8 vs 35.7±24.1 mm, p=0.027) in the NSE group. The bailout stenting rate was also lower in the NSE group (17.6% vs 40.5%, p=0.035). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding lesion length (70.3±50.4 vs 77.8±56.6 mm, p=0.28), inflation time (294±162 vs 353±179 seconds, p=0.08), or inflation pressure (10.6±5.0 vs 11.3±5.3 atm, p=0.31). Conclusion: Three NSE balloon inflations may reduce severe dissections induced by balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal lesions.