Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effects of Ganoderma lucidum 75% ethanol extract (GLE) on immune function of cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppressed mice.
Methods Sixty ICR mice were randomly divided into a control group, model group, positive group, and GLE low-, medium-, and high-dose groups. The positive group was intragastrically administered Yupingfeng granules; the GLE groups received doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg by gavage, respectively; the blank group and model group were given normal saline by gavage for 13 consecutive days. On day 11, except for the blank group, mice in other groups were intraperitoneally injected with CTX at a dose of 50 mg/kg to establish an immunosuppressive mouse model, while the blank group was injected with an equal volume of normal saline. This continued until the end of the gavage period. Serum samples were collected from the mice, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the levels of serum IgG and IgM antibodies. Spleens were aseptically harvested and splenocytes were prepared. The splenocyte proliferation response, natural killer (NK) cell activity, splenocyte cytokine secretion ability, and gene expression levels of cytokines and transcription factors were evaluated respectively.
Results The organ indexes of mice in the medium- and high-dose GLE groups significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01), serum IgM and IgG levels were significantly elevated (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and splenic lymphocyte proliferative response was significantly enhanced (P<0.05). NK cell activity in all GLE groups was significantly increased (P<0.01), and the levels of IL-10 and IFN-γ in the supernatant of concanavalin A-stimulated splenocytes were significantly elevated (P<0.01). In addition, GLE significantly upregulated the expression levels of IL-2, IL-4, STAT4, STAT6, GATA3, and T-bet in splenocytes (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed that GLE alleviated CTX-induced damage to the spleen and thymus in mice.
Conclusion GLE can restore the immune response of immunosuppressed mice by repairing immune organ structures and regulating the Th1/Th2 balance, thereby improving their immune function.
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