Effects of Cordyceps militaris Extracts on Macrophage as Immune Conductors

Yoonjin Park,Seung Gwan Lee,Boyong Kim,Seoyoon Choi

doi:10.3390/app11052206

Abstract

Although Cordyceps militaris is documented several medicinal functions, there is not enough for demonstration of leukocytic differentiation. Cordycepin and adenosine were 11.75 µg and 1.25 µg in the extract, respectively. Unlike the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in macrophages that were approximately 4 time and 48 times higher than the control under lipopolysaccharides (LPS), macrophages under the extract (1 μg/mL) showed 13- and 10-fold lower TNF-α and IL-1β levels than the LPS-treated cells. This was corroborated by flow cytometry, where their levels were 20 times and 14 times lower, respectively. Under the extract, the LPS-treated macrophages enhanced M2 polarization and attenuated M1 polarization. In addition, the extract also dose-dependently activated macrophage phagocytosis. Under the extract conditioned medium, dendritic cells (DCs) were strongly differentiated toward CD11b+ and Xcr1+ cells because their densities were 13.6 times and 6.26 times higher than those in the LPS conditioned medium, respectively. Differentiation of Treg and natural killer T-like (NKTL) cells also were increased about 1.67 times and 6.73 times than those in the LPS conditioned medium, respectively. These results suggest that the C. militaris extract has strong effects on the modulation of macrophages and dendritic cells and T cells under inflammatory stress.

Highlights

Cordyceps species have diverse biological activities and are well known in Chinese traditional medicine
Effects of Cordyceps militaris Extracts on the Expression of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in Macrophages The mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β were quantified in RAW 264.7 cells treated with LPS and extracts containing cordycepin
In macrophages stimulated only with LPS, the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-1β increased approximately four- to five-folds compared with the control (Figure 3a)

Summary

Introduction

Cordyceps species have diverse biological activities and are well known in Chinese traditional medicine. The Cordyceps genus contains around 400 species worldwide. Cordycepin, or 3 -deoxyadenosine, a functional compound found in some Cordyceps, is a precursor of polysaccharides, ergosterol, mannitol, and vitamins [3]. The pharmacological functions of cordycepin are very diverse in vivo and in vitro; it shows anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-leukemia, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity effects and is known to modulate the human immune system [7,8]. There are side effects of Cordyceps, including increasing autoimmune diseases, slow blood clotting, and interaction with other drugs [14]. There are no clear causes for the side effects, Cordyceps has many bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, terpenes, phenolic compounds, and proteins [13]. The suggested dose of Cordyceps is two and three times with 1050 mg extract or 0.14% adenosine [14]

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