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. 2005 Sep;2(3):369–374. doi: 10.1093/ecam/neh105

Inhibition of IgE-dependent Mouse Triphasic Cutaneous Reaction by a Boiling Water Fraction Separated from Mycelium of Phellinus linteus

Naoki Inagaki 1, Tomonori Shibata 1, Tomokazu Itoh 1, Tomohiro Suzuki 2, Hiroyuki Tanaka 1, Tomoyuki Nakamura 3, Yukihito Akiyama 3, Hirokazu Kawagishi 2, Hiroichi Nagai 1,*
PMCID: PMC1193546  PMID: 16136215

Abstract

Phellinus linteus, a mushroom, contains constituents that exhibit potent antitumor effects through activating immune cells. Recently, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of P. linteus extracts have also been implicated. In the present study, therefore, we separated the constituents of mycelium of P. linteus into five fractions—chloroform-soluble (CF), ethyl acetate-soluble (EA), methanol-soluble (AE), water-soluble (WA) and boiling water-soluble (BW) fractions—and examined their suppressive effects on the IgE-dependent mouse triphasic cutaneous reaction. The triphasic reaction was induced in the ear of BALB/c mice passively sensitized with anti-dinitrophenol IgE by painting with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene 24 h later. Ear swelling appeared triphasically with peak responses at 1 h, 24 h and 8 days after the challenge. ME, WA and BW given orally at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 significantly inhibited the first and second phase ear swelling, and BW also inhibited the third phase response. CF only inhibited the second phase. The inhibition by BW was the most potent and almost dose-dependent at doses of 30–300 mg kg−1. BW also inhibited vascular permeability increase caused by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and histamine, and ear swelling caused by tumor necrosis factor-α. In contrast, BW apparently potentiated the production of interleukin-4 and interferon-γ from anti-CD3-stimulated mouse splenocytes. These results indicate that BW derived from mycelium of P. linteus contains some constituents with anti-allergic as well as immunopotentiating properties.

Keywords: allergic reaction, boiling, IgE, mouse, mycelium, Phellinus linteus, water fraction

Introduction

Phellinus linteus, a mushroom, has been known to exhibit a potent antitumor activity and polysaccharides involved are considered to be the active constituents (1–4). The antitumor activity of P. linteus has been ascribed to an immunopotentiating effect because P. linteus polysaccharides exhibit activating effects on immune cells such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, macrophages and dendritic cells (5–8). Recently, direct mechanisms for the antitumor activities of P. linteus have also been recognized (9,10).

In contrast to the immunopotentiating properties of P. linteus, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of P. linteus have rarely been investigated. In 2004, Kim et al. (11) reported that n-butanol fraction of P. linteus dose-dependently inhibits croton oil-induced mouse ear edema. In 2003, Kim et al. (12) reported that oral administration of proteoglycan isolated from P. linteus inhibits collagen-induced mouse arthritis and that the inhibition is associated with reduced serum IgG1 and IgG2a levels and reduced production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in lymph node cells. Furthermore, P. linteus extract reduces IgE production that may be associated with increased IFN-γ production (13). These reports strongly suggest that P. linteus possesses anti-allergic and/or anti-inflammatory properties as well as immunomodulating properties.

In the present study, therefore, we fractionated the constituents of cultured mycelium of P. linteus (4) and examined the anti-allergic properties using the IgE-dependent mouse triphasic cutaneous reaction (14,15).

Methods

Mice

Male and female BALB/c and male ddY mice, 6 weeks of age, were obtained from Japan SLC Inc. (Hamamatsu, Japan) and maintained for 2 weeks before the start of experiments. They were housed in an air-conditioned animal room with a temperature of 22 ± 1°C and a humidity of 60 ± 5%, and fed laboratory diet and water ad libitum. Experiments were undertaken following the guidelines for the care and use of experimental animals of the Japanese Association for Laboratory Animal Science (1987) (16) with an approval by the committee of our university.

Fractionation of Mycelium of P. linteus

Mycelium of P. linteus (strain PL-08, IBI Co., Ltd, Yamanashi, Japan) cultured in a medium (4% glucose, 0.3% dried yeast extract, 0.3% polypeptone, 0.05% potassium dihydrogenphosphate, 0.05% disodium hydrogenphosphate, pH 5.5) was separated by centrifugation and dried (4). Constituents of the dried mycelium were extracted sequentially with chloroform (CF), ethyl acetate (EA), methanol (ME), water (WA) and boiling water (BW), and then the fractions were freeze-dried. The procedure and amount of each fraction obtained are summarized in Fig. 1. The fractions were dissolved or suspended in water and administered to mice orally.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Fractionation of constituents of mycelium of P. linteus and the amount of each fraction obtained.

Drugs and Reagents

As reference drugs, prednisolone (sodium succinate, Shionogi & Co., Ltd, Osaka, Japan) and diphenhydramine (hydrochloride, Sigma-Aldrich Co., St Louis, MO, USA) were used. They were prepared in water and administered to mice orally. For causing cutaneous reactions, histamine (dihydrochloride, Nacalai Tesque, Inc., Kyoto, Japan) and TNF-α (Techne Co., Minneapolis, MN, USA) were used. Anti-CD3 antibodies (anti-mouse CD3ɛ hamster IgG) were purchased from eBioscience, Inc. (San Diego, CA, USA).

IgE and Antigens

Mouse anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) monoclonal IgE was obtained by culturing IgE-producing cells, EC-1, as reported previously (17). IgE titer of the preparation was 1:1024 as estimated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in rats. For the induction of IgE-dependent cutaneous reactions, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB, Nacalai Tesque) and DNP-conjugated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA) were used.

IgE-dependent Triphasic Cutaneous Reaction in the Mouse Ear

IgE-dependent triphasic cutaneous reaction in the ear of female BALB/c mice was induced as reported previously (14,15,17). In brief, mice were passively sensitized by injecting 1 ml of mouse anti-DNP monoclonal IgE preparation intravenously. Twenty-four hours later, cutaneous reaction was evoked by painting with 25 μl of 0.15% DNFB acetone-olive oil (3:1) solution onto each surface of both ear lobes. Ear thickness was measured before and after the DNFB challenge using a micrometer (Ozaki MFG Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan).

PCA in the Mouse Ear

PCA was induced in the ear of male ddY mice as reported previously (18,19). Appropriately diluted mouse anti-DNP monoclonal IgE preparation at a volume of 10 μl was injected into both ear lobes for sensitization. Twenty-four hours later, 0.25 ml of 0.1 mg ml−1 DNP-BSA saline solution containing 0.5% Evans blue was injected intravenously. Vascular permeability increase in the ear was assessed by measuring the amount of extravasated dye 30 min after the challenge.

Cutaneous Reactions Caused by Histamine and TNF-α in the Mouse Ear

Histamine-induced vascular permeability increase was observed in the ear of male ddY mice (18,20). In brief, 10 μl of 10−4 g ml−1 histamine saline solution was injected into both ear lobes. At the same time, 0.25 ml of 0.5% Evans blue saline solution was injected intravenously. The amount of extravasated dye for 30 min after the histamine injection was measured.

TNF-α-induced cutaneous reaction was observed in the ear of male BALB/c mice (21). Ten microliters of 10−5 g ml−1 TNF-α saline solution was injected into both ear lobes and the increase in ear thickness was assessed 24 h later using a micrometer.

Cytokine Production in Mouse Splenocytes

Spleen was excised from intact male BALB/c mice and splenocytes were suspended in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with fetal calf serum at 10%. Splenocytes at a concentration of 2.5 × 106 cells ml−1 were incubated for 48 h in the presence of 1.5 μg ml−1 anti-CD3 antibodies. After the incubation, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IFN-γ in the supernatant were quantified using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits (Endogen Inc., Woburn, MA, USA), and viable cells were counted.

Statistics

Results were expressed as the mean ± SEM. Statistical evaluation of data was performed using InStat Program (GraphPad Software, San Diego, CA, USA). Comparison of data among three or more groups was performed using Dunnett's or Dunn's multiple comparison test after confirming the variance of data by Bartlet's test. Comparison of data between two groups was performed by Student's or Welch's t-test based on the variance of data examined by F-test. When the P-value was <0.05 the difference was considered to be significant.

Results

Inhibition of Triphasic Cutaneous Reaction by Fraction BW Derived from P. linteus

Effects of five fractions—CF, EA, ME, WA and BW—on the triphasic cutaneous reaction were investigated. The fractions and prednisolone were administered orally 1 and 2 h, respectively, before DNFB challenge. The dose for fractions was 100 mg kg−1 except for EA, which was given at a dose of 50 mg kg−1 because of the limited amount obtained. Results are shown in Fig. 2. Upon challenge with DNFB, ear swelling appeared triphasically with peak responses at 1 h, 24 h and 8 days after the challenge. ME, WA and BW at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 significantly inhibited the first and second phase ear swelling, and BW also inhibited the third phase response. CF at a dose of 100 mg kg−1 inhibited only the second phase response. Prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg kg−1 inhibited all three phase responses potently. As the inhibition by ME, WA, BW and prednisolone in the first phase response and prednisolone in the second phase response was expressed potently, the ear thickness was reduced under the prevalue.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Effects of fractions prepared from mycelium of P. linteus and prednisolone on triphasic cutaneous reaction in the ear of BALB/c mice. Fractions and prednisolone were administered orally 1 and 2 h before challenge, respectively. EA was given at a dose of 50 mg kg−1 because of the limited amount obtained. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for seven or eight mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Results of a dose–response study on BW are indicated in Fig. 3. BW at doses of 30–300 mg kg−1 was given orally 1 h before challenge. BW inhibited all three phases almost dose-dependently. Prednisolone given 2 h before inhibited the three phases significantly.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Effects of fraction BW and prednisolone on triphasic cutaneous reaction in the ear of BALB/c mice BW and prednisolone were administered orally 1 and 2 h before challenge, respectively. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for seven or eight mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Inhibition of PCA and Histamine-induced Cutaneous Reaction by BW

Effects of BW on vascular permeability increase associated with PCA and caused by histamine were investigated. BW and diphenhydramine were administered orally 1 h and 30 min, respectively, before eliciting the reaction. Results of PCA are indicated in Fig. 4A. BW at 30–300 mg kg−1 inhibited the vascular permeability increase dose-dependently. As shown in Fig. 4B, histamine-induced vascular permeability increase was also inhibited by BW dose-dependently. Diphenhydramine at a dose of 20 mg kg−1 inhibited the vascular permeability increase associated with PCA and induced by histamine injection potently.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

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Effects of fraction BW and diphenhydramine on vascular permeability increase caused by PCA and histamine in male ddY mice. Vascular permeability increase was cause by PCA (A) and histamine injection (B) in the mouse ear. BW and diphenhydramine were administered orally 1 h and 30 min, respectively, before eliciting the reaction. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for three or seven mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Inhibition of TNF-α-induced Cutaneous Reactions by BW

Effects of BW on TNF-α-induced ear swelling were investigated. Injection of TNF-α into the ear lobe of mice caused an ear swelling with a peak response at ∼24 h later. BW and prednisolone were administered 1 h before TNF-α injection. As shown in Fig. 5, BW at doses of 30 and 300 mg kg−1 inhibited the ear swelling significantly and at 100 mg kg−1 a tendency of inhibition was observed. Prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg kg−1 potently inhibited the TNF-α-induced ear swelling.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

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Effects of fraction BW and prednisolone on ear swelling caused by TNF-α in male BALB/c mice BW and prednisolone were administered orally 1 h before TNF-α injection. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for seven mice. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.

Potentiation of Cytokine Production in Splenocytes by BW

Effects of BW on anti-CD3-induced cytokine production in mouse splenocytes were investigated. Splenocytes, 2.5 × 106 cells per well, were incubated for 48 h in the presence of anti-CD3 antibodies. BW at concentrations from 10−6 to 10−4 g ml−1 and prednisolone at concentration from 10−8 to 10−6 M were added to wells 1 h before addition of anti-CD3 antibodies. As shown in Fig. 6, during the incubation period, although the number of viable cells reduced to 80% in the absence of anti-CD3 antibodies, anti-CD3 stimulation caused an increase in cell number ∼2-fold. Incubation with BW did not affect the increase, but prednisolone showed a tendency of concentration-dependent inhibition. Anti-CD3 stimulation induced IL-4 and IFN-γ production in splenocytes. BW potentiated the production of both cytokines in a concentration-dependent manner, and the potentiation was apparent at concentrations of 10−5 and 10−4 g ml−1. In contrast, prednisolone potently inhibited the anti-CD3-induced cytokine production in a concentration-dependent manner.

Figure 6.

Figure 6

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Effects of fraction BW and prednisolone on cytokine production in mouse splenocytes. Splenocytes were incubated with anti-CD3 antibodies for 48 h in duplicate. After the incubation, cells were recovered and counted. IL-4 and IFN-γ in the supernatants were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for four mice.

Discussion

In the present study, we separated the constituents of mycelium of P. linteus into five fractions and examined their suppressive effects on the IgE-dependent mouse triphasic cutaneous reaction. Present results clearly indicated that the BW fraction contains constituents responsible for inhibiting all three phases of the cutaneous responses most potently.

In mice systemically sensitized with anti-DNP IgE, ear swelling appears triphasically upon challenge with DNFB (14,15). The first phase ear swelling appears immediately after the challenge. The first phase response is absent in mast cell-deficient WBB6F1-W/Wv mice (17,22) and inhibited by antihistamines (17,23), demonstrating that the response is dependent on mast cells and a mast cell mediator, histamine. Fraction BW separated from mycelium of P. linteus potently inhibited the vascular permeability increase associated with PCA and caused by histamine injection. Vascular permeability increase associated with PCA involves IgE-dependent mast cell activation and histamine release, and released histamine is responsible for the increased vascular permeability (19,20). Therefore, BW may suppress IgE-dependent mast cell activation and/or antagonize against histamine actions.

The second phase ear swelling in the triphasic cutaneous reaction peaked at ∼24 h after the challenge is fully expressed in mast cell-deficient mice, and inhibited by antibodies against interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and TNF-α (21,24,25). IL-1β and TNF-α injected into ear lobes of mice cause ear swelling peaked at ∼24 h later. These results strongly suggest that inflammatory cytokines participate in the induction of the second phase response and that the response could be induced mast cell-independently. In contrast, as mast cells produce inflammatory cytokines, mast cell activation could also participate in inducing the second phase response (26,27). In the present results, fraction BW inhibited the ear swelling caused by TNF-α, suggesting that inhibitory properties of BW for inflammatory cytokine actions participate in the inhibition of the second phase response.

The third phase ear swelling in the triphasic cutaneous reaction appears several days later and its peak response is observed at ∼8 days later (14,15). The third phase response is absent in athymic nude mice and partially reduced in mast cell-deficient mice. The third phase ear swelling is characterized by an accumulation of abundant eosinophils. Although a subpopulation of T lymphocytes seems to play important roles in the induction of the third phase response (15), the precise mechanism is not elucidated. In the present study, BW inhibited the third phase response partially. Inhibition of the first phase response by BW may contribute to its inhibition of the third phase response, but the inhibitory mechanism involved should be examined further.

It is well established that polysaccharides of P. linteus potentiate T cell responses (6). In the present study, we examined the effects of BW on the cytokine production of mouse splenocytes stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies. It is interesting to note that the fraction BW potentiated the production of both Th1 cytokine, IFN-γ and Th2 cytokine, IL-4. Therefore, BW may potentiate T cell cytokine production directly and/or through augmenting accessory cell function, and the results coincide well with the previous reports (6,8). However, the immunopotentiating effects of fraction BW may not support its anti-allergic effects. Therefore, effects of BW on the T cell responses should be further examined using different stimulants in relation to its inhibitory mechanism of the third phase response. As the BW fraction derived from P. linteus mycelium seems to contain high molecular weight water-soluble constituents, such as polysaccharides, polysaccharides of P. linteus may exhibit anti-allergic activities as well as immunopotentiating activities.

In summary, we examined the anti-allergic activities of five fractions prepared from mycelium of P. linteus using a mouse allergic reaction model and found that the BW-soluble fraction possesses potent anti-allergic activities. Furthermore, the BW fraction also exhibits immunopotentiating activities. Polysaccharides involved in P. linteus may be the active constituents in the BW fraction responsible for both anti-allergic activities and immunopotentiating activities. Identification and characterization of the active constituents are now underway.

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