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Mast cells are important mediators of immediate hypersensitivity, such as allergy and anaphylaxis. In response to the IgE-dependent and IgE-independent stimuli, mast cells elicit degranulation, which results in releasing various mediators, such as histamine and an array of inflammatory cytokines. Histamine, a main content of granules in mast cells, exerts many effects related to the acute phase of immediate hypersensitivity, including vasodilatation, increased vascular permeability, and tissue edema. 1) Mast cell degranulation can also be elicited by the basic secretagogues. The most potent secretagogues include the compound 48/80, which is a mixed polymer of phenethylamine cross-linked by formaldehyde. 2)In general, compound 48/80 initiates the generation of superoxide anion by A-kinase inactivation through decreasing the intracellular cAMP concentration in mast cells.3) Generated superoxide anion results in the increase of intracellular calcium content, which leads to histamine release from mast cells.4) Thus, compound 48/80 has been used as a direct and convenient reagent to study the mechanism of allergy and anaphylaxis. 1)Phellinus linteus, an orange color mushroom growing well on mulberry tree, is a well-known fungus of the genus Phellinus in the family of Hymenochaetaceae and has been used as a traditional herb medicine in oriental countries. 5)Proteoglycan isolated from Phellinus linteus has been shown to have anti-tumor and immunomodulatory effects.6) It has also been shown to alleviate the septic shock induced by the lipopolysaccharide injection in mice and to be involved in the prevention and treatment of autoimmune joint inflammation such as rheumatoid arthritis. 7,8) Moreover, ethanol extract of Phellinus linteus exhibits potent anti-oxidant and anti-angiogenic activities.9) Lim et al. have reported that organic solvent extracts of Phellinus linteus suppress IgE production by modulating helper T lymphocytes 1/2 balance in murine splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node lymphocytes. 10,11) Inagaki et al. have also demonstrated that a boiling water fraction from mycelium of Phellinus linteus inhibits IgE-dependent mouse triphasic cutaneous reaction.12) However, direct cellular mechanism underlying the mast cell-mediated anaphylaxis-like reaction has poorly been understood. In this study, we have investigated the inhibitory mechanism of water extract from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus against the anaphylaxis-like reaction and mast cell activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS MaterialsCompound 48/80, disodium cromoglycate (DSCG), anti-DNP IgE, DNP-human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and HEPES were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). Percoll solution was purchased from Pharmacia (Uppsala, Sweden).Experimental Animals Male Balb/c (7 week old, 21-25 g), ICR (6 week old, 25-30 g) mice and Sprague-Dawley rats (8 week old, 230-280 g) were purchased from Damool Science (Daejeon, Korea). Animals were housed 3-5 per cages in laminar air-flow cabinet maintained at 22Ϯ1°C a...

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Using semiserial sections from 19 human fetuses of 8-30 weeks gestation, we examined the topohistology of the upper abdominal lymphatics and compared it with that of the lower abdominal and pelvic lymphatics. The upper abdominal lymphatics were characterized by an intimate relationship with the peritoneal lining, a common mesentery for the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Lymphatic connections from the upper abdominal viscera to the paraaortic and paracaval areas followed two routes: (1) from the intestinal mesentery, along the peritoneum on the left aspect of the proximal SMA, via the chain of lymph follicles (LFs) lying along the retropancreatic fusion fascia, to drain into the LFs around the left renal vein; (2) from sites along the peritoneum on the posterior wall of the omental bursa, via the root of the hepatoduodenal ligament, to drain into LFs around the vena cava. The development of these two posterior drainage routes seemed to be promoted by the peritoneum or a peritoneal remnant (i.e., fusion fascia) attaching to the great vessels, and inhibited or impeded by the developing nerves and diaphragm. No paraaortic, paracaval, or pelvic LFs lay along the peritoneum. The pelvic Abbreviations used: AO ¼ aorta; CHA ¼ common hepatic artery; crus ¼ crus of the diaphragm; CT ¼ celiac trunk; D1, D2, D3, and D4 ¼ the first, second, third, or fourth portion of the duodenum, respectively; GL ¼ autonomic ganglion; IVC ¼ inferior vena cava; JA ¼ upper jejunal artery; LGA ¼ left gastric artery; LF ¼ lymph follicle; LRV ¼ left renal vein; panc ¼ pancreas; PC ¼ peritoneal cavity; PV ¼ portal vein; RGEA ¼ right gastroepiploic artery; SMA ¼ superior mesenteric artery; SMV ¼ superior mesenteric vein; SPA ¼ splenic artery; t.colon ¼ transverse colon; TD ¼ thoracic duct; VP ¼ Vater's papilla.

Agaricus blazei is a medically important mushroom widely eaten and prescribed around the world. It is belonged to the Agaricaceae family and is popularly known as "Himematsutake" in Japan. In Brazil, this mushroom is used as a traditional medicine for the prevention of cancer, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, arteriosclerosis, and chronic hepatitis. Recently, it has been reported that Agaricus blazei has the anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial activities.1-6) However, it has not been cleared whether it prevents allergic diseases in experimental model.In general, immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions that involve asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and anaphylaxis are mediated by mast cells. In response to the IgE-dependent and IgE-independent stimuli, mast cells elicit degranulation, which results in releasing various mediators, such as histamine and an array of inflammatory cytokines. Histamine, a main content of granules in mast cells, exerts many effects related to the immediate phase of allergic inflammation including vasodilatation, increased vascular permeability, tissue edema, contraction of bronchial and intestinal smooth muscle, and increased mucus production.7) Mast cell degranulation can also be elicited by the basic secretagogues. The most potent secretagogues include the compound 48/80, which is a mixed polymer of phenethylamine cross-linked by formaldehyde and a high dose of which induces almost a 90% release of histamine from mast cells. 8) Thus, compound 48/80 has been used as a direct and convenient reagent to study the mechanism of allergy and anaphylaxis. 7)In this study, we demonstrate the Agaricus blazei water extract (ABWE) inhibits compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis-like reaction, ear swelling response, and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis-like reaction in mice. We also show that ABWE reduces anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis. Afterward, the inhibitory effect of ABWE on compound 48/80-induced mast cell activation is elucidated, as reported previously. 9) MATERIALS AND METHODS MaterialsCompound 48/80, disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) theophylline, anti-DNP IgE, DNP-human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) and HEPES were purchased from Sigma Chemical Co. (St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.). Percoll solution was purchased from Pharmacia (Uppsala, Sweden).Experimental Animals Male ICR mice (6 week old, 25-30 g) and Sprague-Dawley rats (8 week old, 230-280 g) were purchased from Damool Science (Daejeon, Korea). Animals were housed 3-5 per cages in laminar airflow cabinet maintained at 22Ϯ1°C and relative humidity of 55Ϯ10% throughout the study. Animal Research Committee of Chonbuk National University approved the animal study in accordance with the guidelines of the National Institutes of Health (NIH publication #85-23, 1985).Preparation of Agaricus blazei Water Extract (ABWE) Agaricus blazei water extract used in this study was provided from Dr. Yung Hyun Choi (Department of Biochemistry, Dongeui University, Busan, ...