Cancer is one of the most common causes of deaths worldwide. Herein, we report an efficient natural anticancer glucan (CVG) extracted from Coriolus Versicolar (CV). CVG was extracted by the hot water extraction method followed by ethanol precipitation and purified using gas exclusion chromatography. Structural analysis revealed that CVG has a linear α-glucan chain composed of only (1→ 6)-α-D-Glcp. The antitumor activity of CVG on Sarcoma-180 cells was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Mice were treated with three doses of CVG (40, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight) for 9 days. Tumor weight, relative spleen, thymus weight, and lymphocyte proliferation were studied. A significant increase (P< 0.01) in relative spleen and thymus weight and a decrease (P< 0.01) in tumor weight at the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg were observed. The results obtained demonstrate CVG has antitumor activity towards Sarcoma-180 cells by its immunomodulation activity.

Abstract. Coriolus versicolor (CV) contains high levels of bioactive compounds, including the glucan (1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl. However, there is a lack of data regarding the potential effect of this CV glucan (CVG) on the stimulation of cytokine production. The present study evaluated the effect of CVG on the stimulation of cytokine production in sarcoma-180-bearing mice. Mice were treated with three doses of CVG (40, 100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) for nine days, after which serum levels of cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -6, -10, -17A and interferon (IFN)-α and -γ, were investigated by ELISA. CVG significantly promoted the secretion of IL-2, -4, -6, -10, -17A and IFN-α and -γ at the doses of 100 (P<0.05) and 200 (P<0.01) mg/kg, but not at 40 mg/kg (P>0.05), when compared with cyclophosphamide treatment, as a positive control. Additionally, cytokine production associated with T helper (Th)2 and Th17 cells was enhanced compared with that of Th1 cytokines, and the immunomodulatory function of CVG appeared to be IL-10-dependent. These results demonstrate that CVG may stimulate the production of cytokines and serve as a Th2/IL-10-dependent immunomodulator, and thus has promise in supporting cancer therapies.

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone-lysine N-methyltransferase that encrypts a member of the Polycomb group (PcG) family. EZH2 forms a repressive chromatin structure which eventually participates in regulating the development as well as lineage propagation of stem cells and glioma progression. Posttranslational modifications are distinct approaches for the adjusted modification of EZH2 in the development of cancer. The amino acid succession of EZH2 protein makes it appropriate for covalent modifications, like phosphorylation, acetylation, O-GlcNAcylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and sumoylation. The glioma microenvironment is a dynamic component that comprises, besides glioma cells and glioma stem cells, a complex network that comprises diverse cell types like endothelial cells, astrocytes, and microglia as well as stromal components, soluble factors, and the extracellular membrane. EZH2 is well recognized as an essential modulator of cell invasion as well as metastasis in glioma. EZH2 oversecretion was implicated in the malfunction of several fundamental signaling pathways like Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Ras and NF-κB signaling, PI3K/AKT signaling, β-adrenergic receptor signaling, and bone morphogenetic protein as well as NOTCH signaling pathways. EZH2 was more secreted in glioblastoma multiforme than in low-grade gliomas as well as extremely secreted in U251 and U87 human glioma cells. Thus, the blockade of EZH2 expression in glioma could be of therapeutic value for patients with glioma. The suppression of EZH2 gene secretion was capable of reversing temozolomide resistance in patients with glioma. EZH2 is a promising therapeutic as well as prognostic biomarker for the treatment of glioma.