BMC Genomics (Nov 2007)

<it>Ganoderma lucidum </it>polysaccharides in human monocytic leukemia cells: from gene expression to network construction

  • Ou Chern-Han,
  • Cheng Hsu-Chieh,
  • Hsu Jia-Wei,
  • Chen Jenn-Han,
  • Huang Hsuan-Cheng,
  • Cheng Kun-Chieh,
  • Yang Wen-Bin,
  • Chen Shui-Tein,
  • Wong Chi-Huey,
  • Juan Hsueh-Fen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-8-411
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 411

Abstract

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Abstract Background Ganoderma lucidum has been widely used as a herbal medicine for promoting health and longevity in China and other Asian countries. Polysaccharide extracts from Ganoderma lucidum have been reported to exhibit immuno-modulating and anti-tumor activities. In previous studies, F3, the active component of the polysaccharide extract, was found to activate various cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-12, and TNF-α. This gave rise to our investigation on how F3 stimulates immuno-modulating or anti-tumor effects in human leukemia THP-1 cells. Results Here, we integrated time-course DNA microarray analysis, quantitative PCR assays, and bioinformatics methods to study the F3-induced effects in THP-1 cells. Significantly disturbed pathways induced by F3 were identified with statistical analysis on microarray data. The apoptosis induction through the DR3 and DR4/5 death receptors was found to be one of the most significant pathways and play a key role in THP-1 cells after F3 treatment. Based on time-course gene expression measurements of the identified pathway, we reconstructed a plausible regulatory network of the involved genes using reverse-engineering computational approach. Conclusion Our results showed that F3 may induce death receptor ligands to initiate signaling via receptor oligomerization, recruitment of specialized adaptor proteins and activation of caspase cascades.