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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #96960
Title: ACTIVATION OF MACROPHAGES BY GLB, A PROTEIN-POLYSACCHARIDE OF THE GROWING TIPS OF GANODERMA LUCIDUM

Author
item OH, JUNG-YEON - TAEJON, KOREA
item CHO, KYUNG-JOO - TAEJON, KOREA
item CHUNG, SOO-HYUN - TAEJON, KOREA
item KIM, JIN-HYANG - TAEJON, KOREA
item Lillehoj, Hyun
item CHUNG, KYEONG-SOO - TAEJON, KOREA

Submitted to: Yakhak Hoeji
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/16/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Macrophages are important cells for host defense against various pathogens including bacteria, parasites and virus. Ability to stimulate the activity of macrophages will be important in the potentiation of host immunity in disease situations. In this study ARS scientist and scientists at Seoul National University demonstrated that the protein-polys sisolated from mice and chickens. These results imply that some mushrooms can enhance natural immunity and provide groundwork for future exploitation of mushroom as a biological response modifier.

Technical Abstract: In the previous study we described the antitumor activity of GLB, a protein-polysaccharide fraction of the growing tips of Ganoderma lucidum, against sarcoma 180 solid tumor in ICR mice. In this study, we investigated the stimulatory activity of GLB on macrophages.When analyzed using a flow cytometer, GLB was found to increase the phagocytic activity of Balb/c mouse peritoneal macrophages as well as chicken macrophage BM2Cl cells against FITC-labeled C. albicans by 55.2% and 21.2% respectively. GLB also increased the spreading and expression of MHC class II molecules of BM2CL cells as well as the mouse peritoneal macrophages. From these results, it is clear that GLB is a strong stimulator to the macrophages.