Written by Susan Sweeny Johnson, PhD, Biochem.  Immuno-stimulating properties of polysaccharides from various mushrooms have been able to fight off invading organisms and cause the destruction of cancer cells. 
The immuno-stimulating properties of polysaccharides from various mushrooms have been the subject of extensive investigation over the last few years. (1, 2)  In addition, many of these various polysaccharides have anti-cancer activity. For example, beta glucans, polysaccharides composed only of glucose from mushrooms and yeast have been shown in recent years to boost the immune system in such a way that the body can eliminate many beginning stage cancers. (3, 4).

The polysaccharides from the mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL) have also been shown to have inmuno-stimulatory properties in that they activate B cells, stimulate T lymphocyte, and activate macrophages.(5, 6). These types of cells make up the body’s immune system that identifies foreign substances and fights off invading organisms. The polysaccharides also have been shown to stimulate the destruction of cancer cells directly (7, 8, 9).

Although breast cancer deaths have decreased 22.9% from 1991 to 2003, 40,460 women in the US died of breast cancer in the last year. Since metastatic breast cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death among US middle-aged women, researchers in this study looked at the effects of an aqueous extract of PL containing polysaccharides on the growth and attachment of a highly invasive breast cancer cell line in vitro (i.e. In cell culture). They found that PL extract stopped the growth of the cells, preventing cell replication and tumor growth. Cell attachment and migration were also reduced 60% and 90% respectively. The formation of new blood vessels is crucial to tumor formation. PL slowed the formation of new capillaries in endothelial cells significantly.

These results suggest the potential therapeutic potential of extracts from Phellinus linteus.  Clinical studies should be performed to investigate further.

Source: Sliva, D., A. Jedinak, J. Kawasaki, K. Harvey, and V. Slivova. “Phellinus linteus suppresses growth, angiogenesis and invasive behaviour of breast cancer cells through the inhibition of AKT signalling.” British journal of cancer 98, no. 8 (2008): 1348-1356.

© 2008 Cancer Research UK

Posted August 8, 2008. 

References:

  1. Wasser SP (2002) Medicinal mushrooms as a source of antitumor and immunomodulating polysaccharides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 60:258–274
  2. See the IC Net UK website.
  3. Demir, G; Klein HO, Mandel-Molinas N, Tuzuner N (January 2007). “Beta glucan induces proliferation and activation of monocytes in peripheral blood of patients with advanced breast cancer”. International immunopharmacology 7 (1): 113-116. Netherlands: Elsevier Science. ISSN 1567-5769. PMID 17161824.
  4. Hong, F; Hansen RD, Yan J, Allendorf DJ, Baran JT, Ostroff GR, Ross GD (2003-12-15). “Beta-glucan functions as an adjuvant for monoclonal antibody immunotherapy by recruiting tumoricidal granulocytes as killer cells”. Cancer research 63 (24): 9023-9031. United States: American Association for Cancer Research. ISSN 0008-5472. PMID 14695221
  5. Kim GY, Park HS, Nam BH, Lee SJ, Lee JD (2003b) Purification and characterization of acidic proteo-heteroglycan from the fruiting body of Phellinus linteus (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Teng. Bioresour Technol 89:81–87
  6. Kim GY, Park SK, Lee MK, Lee SH, Oh YH, Kwak JY, Yoon S, Lee JD, Park YM (2003c) Proteoglycan isolated from Phellinus linteus activates murine B lymphocytes via protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase. Int Immunopharmacol 3: 1281– 1292
  7. Lee HJ, Lee HJ, Lim ES, Ahn KS, Shim BS, Kim HM, Gong SJ, Kim DK, Kim SH (2005) Cambodian Phellinus linteus inhibits experimental metastasis of melanoma cells in mice via regulation of urokinase type plasminogen activator. Biol Pharm Bull 28: 27–31
  8. Zhu T, Guo J, Collins L, Kelly J, Xiao ZJ, Kim SH, Chen CY (2007) Phellinus linteus activates different pathways to induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. Br J Cancer 96: 583–590
  9. Guo J, Zhu T, Collins L, Xiao ZX, Kim SH, Chen CY (2007) Modulation of lung cancer growth arrest and apoptosis by Phellinus Linteus. Mol Carcinog 46: 144– 154.