Cytokine production suppression by culture supernatant of B16F10 cells and amelioration by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides in activated lymphocytes.

Some cytokines, such as interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), produced by lymphocytes might play an important role in anti-tumor immunity and their production is possibly suppressed by cancer. Amelioration of the suppression of cytokine production might contribute to cancer control. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS), a versatile group of a component of G. lucidum and one with various bioactivities, might have this potential. In this study, analyses including reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunocytochemistry and Western blot were used to test the effects of Gl-PS on the production of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α in mononuclear lymphocytes by incubating Gl-PS with mouse splenic mononuclear lymphocytes in the presence of B16F10 cell culture supernatant following activation by phytohemagglutinin. The RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blot assays showed that the production of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α in mononuclear lymphocytes was suppressed by B16F10 cell culture supernatant at both the mRNA and protein levels, whereas the suppression was fully or partially ameliorated by Gl-PS. The amelioration by Gl-PS against the suppression of the production of IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α in mononuclear lymphocytes by B16F10 cell culture supernatant might contribute to cancer control.

Suppression of the production of transforming growth factor ß1, interleukin-10, and vascular endothelial growth factor in the B16F10 cells by Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides.

Transforming growth factor ß (TGF-ß), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are three of the commonly studied cytokines playing an important role in tumor initiation and progression. Besides their promotional effects on tumor progression, the three cytokines have immunosuppressive effects that facilitate tumor initiation and progression as well. Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides (Gl-PS) with multiple bioactivities may have the effect on B16F10 melanoma cells to induce stronger antitumor immune response that has been demonstrated. Gl-PS may have the suppressive effects on the production of these three cytokines, which has yet to be demonstrated. In this study, we tested these effects of Gl-PS by incubating Gl-PS with malignant tumor cells such as B16F10 cells, a melanoma cell line, and LA795 cells, a lung carcinoma cell line. RT-qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the production of TGF-ß1, IL-10, and VEGF in B16F10 melanoma cells and LA795 lung carcinoma cells was suppressed by Gl-PS at both mRNA and protein levels, suggesting that the suppression on production of TGF-ß, IL-10, and VEGF in B16F10 melanoma cells and LA795 lung carcinoma cells by Gl-PS may contribute to the therapy on melanoma and lung carcinoma along with the induction of stronger antitumor immune response.