Accuri C6 Flow Cytometer System
Originally published online as doi:10.1189/jlb.0908573 on March 4, 2009

Published online before print March 4, 2009
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(Journal of Leukocyte Biology. 2009;85:987-995.)
© 2009 by Society for Leukocyte Biology

Two-sided effect of Cordyceps sinensis on dendritic cells in different physiological stages

Chia-Yang Li*,1, Chi-Shiun Chiang*,1, Min-Lung Tsai*, Ruey-Shyang Hseu{dagger}, Wun-Yi Shu{ddagger}, Chun-Yu Chuang*, Yuh-Chang Sun*, Yuan-Shiun Chang§, Jaung-Geng Lin||, Chih-Sheng Chen{dagger}, Ching-Lung Huang* and Ian C. Hsu*,2

* Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences and
{ddagger} Institute of Statistics, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan;
{dagger} Institute of Microbiology and Biochemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; and
§ Institute of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, and
|| Graduate Institute of Chinese Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

2 Correspondence: Department of Biomedical Engineering and Environmental Sciences, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. E-mail: ichsu{at}mx.nthu.edu.tw

ABSTRACT

Cordyceps sinensis (CS), a Chinese tonifying herb, has been widely used for centuries in Asian countries as a medicine and a health supplement. Although ample evidence indicates that CS can modulate immune responses, the functional effect of CS on dendritic cells (DCs) is still unclear. This study examines how CS affects human monocyte-derived DCs in two physiological states: naïve and LPS-induced inflammatory. Our experimental results demonstrate that CS acts as an activator and maturation inducer of immature DCs by stimulating the expression of costimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines by DCs, enhancing the DC-induced, allogeneic T cell proliferation, and reducing the endocytic ability of DCs. In contrast, CS suppresses the LPS-induced, inflammatory response by decreasing the LPS-induced expression of costimulatory molecules and proinflammatory cytokines by DCs. CS also suppresses the LPS-induced, DC-elicited, allogeneic T cell proliferation and shifts the LPS-activated, DC-driven Th1 response toward a Th2 response. These results demonstrate that CS differentially regulates the DC activities according to the presence or absence of the inflammatory signs. Restated, with the lack of an ongoing inflammatory environment, CS primes DCs toward a Th1-type immunity, whereas in a potential inflammatory reaction, CS balances the over-reactivity of elicited Th1 immunity. This investigation illustrates the Yin-Yang balancing effects of CS as a medicine and a health supplement.

Key Words: antigen-presenting cells • immune suppression • cell activation • inflammation