Ganoderma lucidum extracts inhibited leukemia WEHI-3 cells in BALB/c mice and promoted an immune response in vivo

Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2009 Dec;73(12):2589-94. doi: 10.1271/bbb.90357. Epub 2009 Dec 7.

Abstract

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) is a medicinal mushroom having biological effects such as immunomodulation and anti-tumor actions. In China and many other Asian countries, G. lucidum is used as a folk remedy to promote health and longevity. Although many studies have shown that G. lucidum modulates the immune system, including, for example, antigen-presenting cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and the T and B lymphocytes, the effects of G. lucidum on the WEHI-3 leukemic BALB/c mice are unclear. We attempted to determine whether G. lucidum would promote immune responses in BALB/c mice injected with WEHI-3 leukemia cells. The effects of G. lucidum on the survival rate of WEHI-3 leukemia cells injected into BALB/c mice were examined. It increased the percentages of CD3 and CD19, but decreased the percentages of Mac-3 and CD11b markers, suggesting that differentiation of the precursor of T and B cells was promoted but macrophages were inhibited. It decreased the weight of spleens as compared with control mice. It also promoted phagocytosis by macrophage from peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) and it also promoted natural killer cell activity. It decreased the percentage of leukemia cells in the spleens of mice before they were injected with WEHI-3 cells. Apparently, G. lucidum affects murine leukemia WEHI-3 cells in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • Cell Extracts / immunology
  • Cell Extracts / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Concanavalin A / immunology
  • Injections
  • Killer Cells, Natural / drug effects
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Leukemia / immunology*
  • Leukemia / pathology*
  • Leukocytes / drug effects
  • Leukocytes / immunology
  • Leukocytes / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Phagocytosis / immunology
  • Reishi / chemistry*
  • Reishi / immunology*
  • Spleen / drug effects
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Spleen / pathology
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Cell Extracts
  • Concanavalin A