Heterogalactan WPEP-N-b from Pleurotus eryngii enhances immunity in immunocompromised mice

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2023-01, Vol.225, p.1010-1020
• Main Authors: Chen, Lei, Ren, Ai, Wang, Yushi, Qu, Yunhe, Gong, Hesong, Mayo, Kevin H., Zhou, Yifa, Cheng, Hairong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression; Cytokines - metabolism; Galactans; Immunomodulation; Macrophages - metabolism; Mice; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Pleurotus - metabolism; Pleurotus eryngii; Polysaccharides
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.11.163

This study reports on in vivo immunomodulatory activities mediated by WPEP-N-b, a heterogalactan from Pleurotus eryngii. Using cyclophosphamide (CTX)–induced immunosuppressed mice, we demonstrate here that WPEP-N-b enhances immunity as determined by the immune organ index, peripheral blood immune cell content, splenocyte proliferation, NK cell activity and T lymphocyte subpopulations. WPEP-N-b prevented apoptosis of bone marrow cells induced by CTX. The level of cytokines (i.e. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) and macrophage activity in these immunocompromised mice were restored upon treated with WPEP-N-b. Mechanistically, it appears that WPEP-N-b enhances splenocyte proliferation and NK cell activity might through the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)-PKC signaling axis, and increases macrophage activity by activating JNK, p38 and NF-κB signaling pathways and Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is the possible receptor of WPEP-N-b in macrophages. Our findings indicate that WPEP-N-b may function as a natural immune stimulant. •WPEP-N-b enhances the overall health of immunodeficient mice.•WPEP-N-b restores immune abnormalities induced by cyclophosphamide.•WPEP-N-b increases splenocyte proliferation and NK cell activity through the PKC signaling pathway.•WPEP-N-b promotes macrophage activity via JNK, p38 and NF-κB signaling pathways.