Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide from Poria cocos

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2024-03, Vol.261 (Pt 2), p.129878-129878, Article 129878
• Main Authors: Lv, Yaozhong, Yang, Yajun, Chen, Ying, Wang, Dongfan, Lei, Yipeng, Pan, Mingyue, Wang, Zhenzhong, Xiao, Wei, Dai, Yujie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Immunomodulatory; Immunosuppressed mice; Polysaccharide; Poria cocos; Structural characterization
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129878

In order to investigate the structural characteristics and immunomodulatory effects of Poria cocos polysaccharides, a water-soluble homogeneous polysaccharide (PCP-2) was isolated by water extraction and alcohol precipitation and further purified by Cellulose DEAE-52 and Sephacryl S-100HR column chromatography. PCP-2 is a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, and fucose in a molar ratio of 42.0: 35.0: 13.9: 9.1. It exhibits a narrow molecular weight distribution at 2.35 kDa with a branching degree of 37.1 %. The main chain types of PCP-2 include 1,3-β-D-Glc and 1,6-β-D-Glc as the backbone glucans and 1,6-α-D-Gal as the backbone heterogalactan. In vitro experiments demonstrate that PCP-2 directly stimulate RAW264.7 cell proliferation and secretion of inflammatory factors such as NO and TNF-α. In cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced mice, it promotes the development of thymus and spleen immune organs, elevates the blood levels of IgG, IgA, IgM and CD3+CD4+ T cells, increases the intestinal villus height/ crypt depth ratio and improves gut barrier dysfunctions. These findings suggest that PCP-2 is a natural fungal polysaccharide with broad spectrum of immunoenhancing effects, which can significantly ameliorate the immunocompromised state. •Polysaccharide PCP-2 is obtained from Poria cocos.•PCP-2 is a complex polysaccharide with 1,3-β-D-Glc, 1,6-β-D-Glc and 1,6-α-D-Gal linkage.•PCP-2 increases the intestinal villus height/crypt depth ratio in immunosuppressed mice.•PCP-2 improves gut barrier dysfunctions in immunosuppressed mice.•PCP-2 significantly ameliorates immunocompromised states.