Agaricus brasiliensis-derived β-glucans exert immunoenhancing effects via a dectin-1-dependent pathway

Agaricus brasiliensis is a well-known medicinal mushroom. We have previously demonstrated that Agaricus-derived polysaccharides exhibit potent antitumor effects; however, the underlying mechanism(s) have not been elucidated yet. In this study, we examined the immunoenhancing activities of Agaricus extracts. Agaricus-derived polysaccharides were characterized as 1,6-β-glucan with a small amount of 1,3-β-glucan using anti-β-glucan antibody and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. These polysaccharides strongly induced the production of various cytokines from both murine splenocytes and bone marrow-derived dendritic cells in the presence of exogenous granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Polysaccharide-induced cytokine production was significantly reduced in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells derived from dectin-1-deficient mice. Furthermore, a binding assay revealed that the Agaricus-derived polysaccharides can be recognized by dectin-1, a pivotal receptor for 1,3-β-glucan. Taken together, our results clearly indicate that the immunostimulation induced by Agaricus-derived polysaccharides is exerted, at least in part, via dectin-1 in combination with granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor.

► We prepared and characterized Agaricus-derived β-glucans.
► GM-CSF plays a key role in cytokine synthesis induced by Agaricus-derived β-glucans in murine splenocytes.
► IFN-γ secretion induced by Agaricus-derived β-glucans in murine splenocytes is mediated by CD11c+ dendritic cells.
► Agaricus-derived β-glucans activate dendritic cells via a dectin-1-mediated pathway.