Abstract

Water-soluble proteoglycan (WSPG) of Agaricus blazei Murill has been known to stimulate the non-specific complements and humoral immune functions to act as polyclonal activators of B cells and to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. However, little is known about its immunomodulating effects on murine bone marrow (BM)-derived dendritic cells (DC). In the present study, we examined the maturation process of murine BM-DC. BM cells were cultured in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF and the generated immature DC were stimulated with WSPG or LPS (WSPG-DC and LPS-DC, respectively) for 24 h. WSPG significantly enhanced the expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, as did LPS. IL-12p70 production in WSPG-DC was also identical to that in LPS-DC. The antigen-uptake capacity of WSPG-DC was determined by FITC-labeled dextran uptake. WSPG-DC lost dextran uptake capacity comparable to LPS-DC. The antigen-presenting capacity of WSPG-DC as analyzed by allogeneic T cell proliferation was significantly increased in comparison with immature DC, was identical to LPS-DC, and induced higher levels of IL-2 in responding T cells. These results indicate the immunomodulatory properties of WSPG, which might be therapeutically useful in the control of cancers and immunodeficient diseases through the up-regulation of DC maturation.