Enhanced production of interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor by peripheral monocytes after lentinan administration in patients with gastric carcinoma

Abstract

The effect of intravenous administration of lentinan, an immunopotentiating polysaccharide, on the production of interleukin 1-α (IL 1-α), interleukin 1-β (IL 1-β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) by monocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) was studied in patients with gastric carcinoma. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 10 patients before and 3, 5 and 7 days after a single dose of 2 mg lentinan injection. The ability of monocytes in PBM to produce IL 1-α was significantly augmented 3 and 5 days after lentinan administration, as compared with the before treatment. IL 1-β production was also significantly increased 3, 5 and 7 days after the drug injection. Further, the capacity to produce TNF-α was significantly enhanced 3, 5 and 7 days after the drug administration. Thus, it is likely that the augmentation of these cytokine's production may contribute to the antitumor action of lentinan in patients with gastric carcinoma.