M1 macrophages polarized by crude polysaccharides isolated from Auricularia polytricha exhibit anti-tumor effect on human breast cancer cells.

Breast cancer has been reported to correlate with the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) or M2-like macrophages in tumor microenvironment (TME) that could promote breast cancer progression. In contrast, M1-like macrophages displayed anti-tumor activity toward cancer. This study was focused on Auricularia polytricha (AP), a cloud ear mushroom, which has been reported for anti-tumor activity and immunomodulation. AP extracts were screened on differentiated THP-1 macrophages (M0). Results demonstrated that water extract (APW) and crude polysaccharides (APW-CP) could upregulate M1-related genes and cytokines production (IL-6, IL-1 ß and TNF-α) significantly. Moreover, APW and APW-CP showed a high expression of CD86 (M1 marker) compared to M0. The NF-κB signaling pathway is crucial for pro-inflammatory gene regulation. The APW and APW-CP treatment showed the induction of the NF-κB pathway in a dose-dependent manner, which related to the ß-glucan content in the extracts. Furthermore, APW-CP polarized macrophages were investigated for anti-tumor activity on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). Results showed that APW-CP could inhibit the invasion of breast cancer cells and induce apoptosis. Therefore, M1 macrophages polarized by APW-CP showed anti-tumor activity against the breast cancer cells and ß-glucan may be the potential M1-phenotype inducer.

Potential Beneficial Effects and Pharmacological Properties of Ergosterol, a Common Bioactive Compound in Edible Mushrooms.

Ergosterol is an important sterol commonly found in edible mushrooms, and it has important nutritional value and pharmacological activity. Ergosterol is a provitamin. It has been well established that edible mushrooms are an excellent food source of vitamin D2 because ergosterol is a precursor that is converted to vitamin D2 under ultraviolet radiation. The pharmacological effects of ergosterol, which include antimicrobial, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-neurodegenerative, and other activities, have also been reported. This review aims to provide an overview of the available evidence regarding the pharmacological effects of ergosterol and its underlying mechanisms of action. Their potential benefits and applications are also discussed.

Control of Line Tension at Phase-Separated Lipid Domain Boundaries: Monounsaturated Fatty Acids with Different Chain Lengths and Osmotic Pressure.

Line tension at phase-separated lipid domain boundaries is an important factor that governs the stability of the phase separation. We studied the control of the line tension in lipid membranes composed of dioleoylphosphocholine (DOPC), dipalmitoylphosphocholine (DPPC), and cholesterol (Chol) by the addition of the following three monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) with different chain lengths: palmitoleic acid (PaA), oleic acid (OA), and eicosenoic acid (EiA). In addition, we attempted to alter the line tension by applying osmotic pressure. The phase behavior of the MUFA-containing lipid membranes in the presence and absence of osmotic stress was observed by fluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The line tension was quantitatively measured from the domain boundary fluctuation by flicker spectroscopy, and the interactions between the lipids and MUFAs were examined by differential scanning calorimetry. PaA and OA, which are shorter MUFAs, decreased the line tension, whereas EiA changed the liquid domain to a solid domain. The osmotic pressure increased the line tension, even in the presence of MUFAs. It may be possible to control the line tension by combining the chemical approach of MUFA addition and the physical approach of applying osmotic pressure.

Osmotic-Tension-Induced Membrane Lateral Organization.

Alteration of lipid raft organization manifesting as phase separation is important for cellular processes, such as signaling and trafficking. Such behaviors and dynamics of lipid membranes can be affected by external stimuli including both physical and chemical stimuli. In this study, we focused on osmotic-tension-induced phase separation. The effects of osmotic tension on the phase behaviors of vesicles consisting of dioleoylphosphocholine (DOPC)/dipalmitoylphosphocholine (DPPC)/cholesterol (Chol) were quantitatively studied at different temperatures by fluorescence microscopy. We determined the ternary phase diagrams and found that tension leads to a shift in the miscibility temperature. Cholesterol plays a key role in determining the extent of this shift. In addition, we found that osmotic tension can enhance the line tension. The physicochemical mechanism of osmotic-pressure-induced phase separation is discussed.