Nonsaponin fractions of Korean Red Ginseng extracts prime activation of NLRP3 inflammasome.

Background: Korean Red Ginseng extracts (RGE) have been suggested as effective immune modulators, and we reported that ginsenosides possess anti-inflammasome properties. However, the properties of nonsaponin components of RGE have not been well studied.

Methods: To assess the roles of nonsaponin fractions (NS) in NLRP3 inflammasome activation, we treated murine macrophages with or without first or second inflammasome activation signals with RGE, NS, or saponin fractions (SF).

Lentinan from shiitake selectively attenuates AIM2 and non-canonical inflammasome activation while inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Lentinan extracted from shiitake (Lentinula edodes) is a β-glucan that has been reported as an intravenous anti-tumor polysaccharide via enhancement of the host immune system. In this study, we determined the effect of lentinan on inflammasome activation, a multi-protein platform, in myeloid cells. Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages were treated with lentinan with/without inflammasome triggers, and maturation of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-18, or caspase-1 was measured as a readout of inflammasome activation.