Effect of edible fungal polysaccharides on improving influenza vaccine protection in mice

Abstract

Fungal polysaccharides have shown broad spectrum of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative and improve immunity. However, oral administration of fungal polysaccharides for rendering the conventional vaccine against influenza virus has been reported rarely. Here, we investigated the potential of fungal polysaccharides in enhancing the influenza vaccine efficacy in a mouse model. Mice were immunized with inactivated H1N1 (A/ PR8/1934) influenza vaccine combined with oral polysaccharides lentinan, tremellan, pachymaran and a mixture of the three. The results showed that mice in the polysaccharides/vaccine groups had reduced morbidity, improved viral clearance, and recovered faster than the mice receiving the conventional vaccine only after infection. This effect could be attributed to the increased levels of virus-specific serum antibody IgG and decreased levels of inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ in the lung tissue. Our finding suggests that taking fungal polysaccharides orally might be useful for improving the efficacy of conventional inactive influenza vaccines.

Protective Role of a New Polysaccharide Extracted from Lonicera japonica Thunb in Mice with Ulcerative Colitis Induced by Dextran Sulphate Sodium

“…Recently, many studies have found that polysaccharides extracted from plants and fungus can activate immune cells, inhibit tumor growth, and improve the body's immune function [ 32 – 34 ]. In a previous study, a new polysaccharide from Lonicera japonica Thunb had been isolated and characterized by us.…”

Adjuvant Effect of Orally Applied Preparations Containing Non-Digestible Polysaccharides on Influenza Vaccination in Healthy Seniors: A Double-Blind, Randomised, Controlled Pilot Trial

“…In humans, a particular β-glucan from S. cerevisiae was found to reduce the number of influenza symptoms and duration and severity of upper respiratory tract infections in three randomised, placebo-controlled trials [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Furthermore, studies in mice have shown that lentinan, a β-glucan from shiitake ( Lentinula edodes ), could enhance vaccine efficacy [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Identification of genes underlying the enhancement of immunity by a formula of lentinan, pachymaran and tremelia polysaccharides in immunosuppressive mice

“…Sing , were distilled twice with water, and subsequently filtrated and concentrated, followed by ethanol extraction. The constituents of the polysaccharide formula were detected (see Table 2 ), and the formula of polysaccharides comprised lentinan, pachynaran and tremelia polysaccharides according to the proportion (lentinan: tremellan: pachymaran = 7:2:1, which was optimized by T cell proliferation experiments 17 ).…”

“…In a preliminary study 17 , we found that the formula of multiple polysaccharides was more potent to regulate immunologic activities than each polysaccharide separately. This formula comprised lentinan, pachymaran and tremella, but the mechanisms underlying such effects on immunity remain unclear.…”