Investigating the Activation Effects of Polysaccharides of Flammulina velutipes Mycorrhizae on T Lymphocyte Immune Function

The present study aims to investigate the application value of polysaccharide of F. velutipes
mycorrhizae (PFVM). Flammulina velutipes is one of the most popular edible fungi in China and
Japan because of its high nutritional value and attractive taste. Flammulina velutipes mycorrhizae
have increasingly been produced with increasing of F. velutipes production. A mouse model was thus
used to examine potential effect of F. velutipes mycorrhizae on the immune function. Fifty female
Wistar mice (5-weeks-old) weighed 15–20 g were randomly allocated into five groups. Polysaccharide
of F. velutipes mycorrhizae were treated with mice and mice spleen lymphocytes. The levels of CD3+,
CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocyte, interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-) were
determined. The results showed that the proportions of CD3+, andCD4+ T lymphocyte, the ratio of
CD4+/CD8+, and the levels of IL-2 and TNF-a were significantly increased in polysaccharide of F.
velutipes mycorrhizae, while the proportion of CD8+ T lymphocyte was decreased in polysaccharide of
F. velutipes mycorrhizae-dose dependent manner. This study concludes that a long term exposure of
polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae could activate the T lymphocyte immune function.
Polysaccharide of F. velutipes mycorrhizae was expected to develop into the immune health products.