Effects of cultured Cordyceps mycelia polysaccharide A on tumor neurosis factor-α induced hepatocyte injury with mitochondrial abnormality

Cordyceps sinensis mycelia polysaccharide A (CPS-A), was isolated from cultured Cordyceps mycelia by 65% alcohol extraction and ion-exchange column chromatography. The molecular weight of CPS-A was 1.2 × 104 Da and the backbone was mainly composed of (1 → 2)-linked β-d-mannopyranose, (1 → 2,4)-linked β-d-mannopyranose and (1 → 4)-linked α-d-glucopyranose with terminal β-d-mannopyranose and α-d-glucopyranose residues. CPS-A played a protective role against TNF-α induced mitochondria injury in L02 cells via up-regulation of mitofusin 2, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), and membrane potential. CPS-A also played a protective role against TNF-α induced L02 cells apoptosis via up-regulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bid, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and ROS production. Moreover, CPS-A attenuated both the normal expression and overexpression of TNF-α receptor 1 (TNFR1) induced by TNF-α administration. In conclusion, CPS-A was involved in TNF-α induced mitochondria abnormality via TNFR1/ROS/Mfn2 pathway.