Effect of Polysaccharides on Enteric Mucosal Immune Response in Rats

The effect of ginseng polysaccharide and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide on T-lymphocytes in enteric mucosal lymphocytes in rats, including healthy rats, those with collagen induced arthritis, and with C26 colon carcinoma were explored. For this study peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), peyer's patch lymphocyte (PPL), intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL), and lamina propria lymphocyte (LPL) of SD rats were isolated. These lymphocytes were co-cultured with ginseng polysaccharide and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide in different dosages. The TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatants were measured with ELISA. Ginseng polysaccharide and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide can regulate the level of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the supernatant of PBMC and PPL; Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide in some dosages can increase the level of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatant of IEL; Ginseng polysaccharide and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide can decrease the level of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatant of LPL. Ginseng polysaccharide and Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide can regulate the function of lymphocytes in the enteric mucosal immune system.