Structure and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble α-glucan from Hirsutella sinensis mycelia

Hirsutella sinensis, the anamorph of Ophiocordyceps sinensis (syn. Cordyceps sinensis), is a great substitute for precious and rare wild Cordyceps sinensis to effectively treat a variety of lung and kidney diseases. In this study, an alpha-glucan (named as HSWP-2a) was obtained by hot water extraction, DEAE-cellulose separation, and Sepharose CL-6B purification from H. sinensis mycelia. Different from known alpha-glucans, HSWP-2a is an alpha-(1 -> 4)-D-glucan that branched at O-6, O-3, or O-2 with a terminal 1-linked alpha-D-Glcp as side chain, with an average molecular weight of 870.70 kDa. Immunological tests showed that HSWP-2a could remarkably enhance the phagocytosis of macrophages and increase the production of NO, IL-113, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, via activating the p38, JNK, and NF-KB signaling pathways. Moreover, HSWP-2a could significantly promote splenic lymphocyte proliferation. Taken together, HSWP-2a may be potentially utilized as a natural immunomodulatory agent.

Automated summary

The study found that HSWP-2a extracted from Hirsutella sinensis has potential immunomodulatory effects, enhancing macrophage phagocytosis and promoting splenic lymphocyte proliferation.