Lentinan ameliorates burn sepsis by attenuating CD4+ CD25+ Tregs

Integrated network toxicology, molecular docking, and in vivo experiments to elucidate molecular mechanism of aflatoxin B1 hepatotoxicity

Due to the rise in temperature and sea level caused by climate change, the detection rate of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in food crops has increased dramatically, and the frequency and severity of aflatoxicosis in humans and animals are also increasing. AFB1 has strong hepatotoxicity, causing severe liver damage and even cancer. However, the mechanism of AFB1 hepatotoxicity remains unclear. By integrating network toxicology, molecular docking and in vivo experiments, this research was designed to explore the potential hepatotoxicity mechanisms of AFB1. Thirty-three intersection targets for AFB1-induced liver damage were identified using online databases. PI3K/AKT1, MAPK, FOXO1 signaling pathways, and apoptosis were significantly enriched. In addition, the proteins of ALB, AKT1, PIK3CG, MAPK8, HSP90AA1, PPARA, MAPK1, EGFR, FOXO1, and IGF1 exhibited good affinity with AFB1. In vivo experiments, significant pathological changes occurred in the liver of mice. AFB1 induction increased the expression levels of EGFR, ERK, and FOXO1, and decreased the expression levsls of PI3K and AKT1. Moreover, AFB1 treatment caused an increase in Caspase3 expression, and a decrease in Bcl2/Bax ratio. By combining network toxicology with in vivo experiments, this study confirms for the first time that AFB1 promotes the FOXO1 signaling pathway by inactivating PI3K/AKT1 and activating EGFR/ERK signaling pathways, hence aggravating hepatocyte apoptosis. This research provides new strategies for studying the toxicity of environmental pollutants and new possible targets for the development of hepatoprotective drugs.

Lentinan progress in inflammatory diseases and tumor diseases

Shiitake mushrooms are a fungal food that has been recorded in Chinese medicine to nourish the blood and qi. Lentinan (lLNT) is an active substance extracted from shiitake mushrooms with powerful antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor functions. Inflammatory diseases and cancers are the leading causes of death worldwide, posing a serious threat to human life and health and posing enormous challenges to global health systems. There is still a lack of effective treatments for inflammatory diseases and cancer. LNT has been approved as an adjunct to chemotherapy in China and Japan. Studies have shown that LNT plays an important role in the treatment of inflammatory diseases as well as oncological diseases. Moreover, clinical experiments have confirmed that LNT combined with chemotherapy drugs has a significant effect in improving the prognosis of patients, enhancing their immune function and reducing the side effects of chemotherapy in lung cancer, colorectal cancer and gastric cancer. However, the relevant mechanism of action of the LNT signaling pathway in inflammatory diseases and cancer. Therefore, this article reviews the mechanism and clinical research of LNT in inflammatory diseases and tumor diseases in recent years.

Machine learning links different gene patterns of viral infection to immunosuppression and immune-related biomarkers in severe burns

Introduction

Viral infection, typically disregarded, has a significant role in burns. However, there is still a lack of biomarkers and immunotherapy targets related to viral infections in burns.

Methods

Virus-related genes (VRGs) that were extracted from Gene Oncology (GO) database were included as hallmarks. Through unsupervised consensus clustering, we divided patients into two VRGs molecular patterns (VRGMPs). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was performed to study the relationship between burns and VRGs. Random forest (RF), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, and logistic regression were used to select key genes, which were utilized to construct prognostic signatures by multivariate logistic regression. The risk score of the nomogram defined high- and low-risk groups. We compared immune cells, immune checkpoint-related genes, and prognosis between the two groups. Finally, we used network analysis and molecular docking to predict drugs targeting CD69 and SATB1. Expression of CD69 and SATB1 was validated by qPCR and microarray with the blood sample from the burn patient.

Results

We established two VRGMPs, which differed in monocytes, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and T cells. In WGCNA, genes were divided into 14 modules, and the black module was correlated with VRGMPs. A total of 65 genes were selected by WGCNA, STRING, and differential expression analysis. The results of GO enrichment analysis were enriched in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, B cell receptor signaling pathway, alpha-beta T cell activation, and alpha-beta T cell differentiation. Then the 2-gene signature was constructed by RF, LASSO, and LOGISTIC regression. The signature was an independent prognostic factor and performed well in ROC, calibration, and decision curves. Further, the expression of immune cells and checkpoint genes differed between high- and low-risk groups. CD69 and SATB1 were differentially expressed in burns.

Discussion

This is the first VRG-based signature (including 2 key genes validated by qPCR) for predicting survival, and it could provide vital guidance to achieve optimized immunotherapy for immunosuppression in burns.

Immunomodulatory Properties of Polysaccharides from Lentinula edodes

Lentinula edodes (Berk.) Pegler, also known as shiitake mushroom, is a popular edible macrofungus and a source of numerous bioactive substances with multiple beneficial health effects. L. edodes-derived polysaccharides are the most valuable compounds, with anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. It has been demonstrated that their biological activity depends on the extraction method, which affects monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, branching degrees, and helical conformation. In this review, we discuss the immunomodulatory properties of various polysaccharides from L. edodes in animal models and in humans.

Selective Biological Effects of Selenium-Enriched Polysaccharide (Se-Le-30) Isolated from Lentinula edodes Mycelium on Human Immune Cells

A common edible mushroom Lentinula edodes, is an important source of numerous biologically active substances, including polysaccharides, with immunomodulatory and antitumor properties. In the present work, the biological activity of the crude, homogenous (Se)-enriched fraction (named Se-Le-30), which has been isolated from L. edodes mycelium by a modified Chihara method towards human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and peripheral granulocytes, was investigated. The Se-Le-30 fraction, an analog of lentinan, significantly inhibited the proliferation of human PBMCs stimulated with anti-CD3 antibodies or allostimulated, and down-regulated the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α by CD3+ T cells. Moreover, it was found that Se-Le-30 significantly reduced the cytotoxic activity of human natural killer (NK) cells. The results suggested the selective immunosuppressive activity of this fraction, which is non-typical for mushroom derived polysaccharides.

Lentinan modulates intestinal microbiota and enhances barrier integrity in a piglet model challenged with lipopolysaccharide

The protective effects of lentinan may be associated with inhibition of inflammation, production of SCFAs, and alterations of microbiota composition.

Inflammatory cytokine expression in patients with sepsis at an intensive care unit

Sepsis is a systemic inflammatory response syndrome caused by infection of bacteria, fungi and/or viruses in clinical patients. It is known that inflammatory cytokine levels have an essential role in the progression of sepsis. The present study investigated the role of inflammatory markers in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) of patients with sepsis at an intensive care unit. In addition, the plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines were compared between sepsis patients and healthy individuals. The results demonstrated that the serum levels of interleukin-1, -17 and -6, as well as tumor necrosis factor-α, were upregulated in sepsis patients. The serum levels of high mobility group box 1 and C-reactive protein were increased in sepsis patients compared with those in healthy individuals. The expression levels of nuclear factor-κB-p65 and its inhibitor IκBα, as well as the ratio of CD25⁺ cells, and the levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and peptidoglycan recognition protein were higher in hPBMCs in sepsis patients compared with those in healthy individuals. It was also indicated that balance of T helper type 1/2 cytokines was also disturbed in patients with sepsis compared with that in healthy individuals. In conclusion, these results indicated that inflammation is involved in the progression of sepsis by interfering with the expression of various molecules, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of sepsis patients.