COVID-19 and Cancer Diseases-The Potential of Mushroom to Combat Global Health Challenges.

(CV) is a common species from the family that has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for over 2000 years. Among well-described and most active compounds identified in CV are polysaccharopeptides, such as polysaccharide peptide (PSP) and Polysaccharide-K (PSK, krestin), which, in some countries, are already used as an adjuvant agent in cancer therapy. In this paper, research advances in the field of anti-cancer and anti-viral action of CV are analyzed.

Dual Effect of the Extract from the Fungus on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cytokine Production in RAW 264.7 Macrophages Depending on the Lipopolysaccharide Concentration.

Purpose: Extract from the fungus (CV) is classified as an immunological response modifier. Previously, we have shown that this extract induces interleukin 6 (IL-6)-related extension of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever. This study investigated the effect of CV extract on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the expression of components of signal transduction pathways leading to the secretion of cytokines from RAW 264.

Design and Development of Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulators as Immunology Antibody-Drug Conjugate Payloads.

Glucocorticoid receptor modulators (GRM) are the first-line treatment for many immune diseases, but unwanted side effects restrict chronic dosing. However, targeted delivery of a GRM payload via an immunology antibody-drug conjugate (iADC) may deliver significant efficacy at doses that do not lead to unwanted side effects. We initiated our α-TNF-GRM ADC project focusing on identifying the optimal payload and a linker that afforded stable attachment to both the payload and antibody, resulting in the identification of the synthetically accessible maleimide-Gly-Ala-Ala linker.

Distinct Modulatory Effects of Fever-Range Hyperthermia on the Response of Breast Cancer Cells and Macrophages to Mistletoe ( L.) Extract.

Heat utility as a critical component of fever is often ignored, although the symptom is observed in many medical conditions. Mistletoe extract (ME) is an adjunctive medication prescribed to cancer patients. The increase in body temperature is frequently observed in patients following ME administration.

Pigmentation Levels Affect Melanoma Responses to Extract and Play a Crucial Role in Melanoma-Mononuclear Cell Crosstalk.

Melanoma, the malignancy originating from pigment-producing melanocytes, is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and has a poor prognosis once the disease starts to metastasize. The process of melanin synthesis generates an immunosuppressive and mutagenic environment, and can increase melanoma cell resistance to different treatment modalities, including chemo-, radio- or photodynamic therapy. Recently, we have shown that the presence of melanin pigment inhibits the melanoma cell response to bioactive components of (CV) Chinese fungus.

Extract from the Fungus as an Anti-Inflammatory Agent with Cytotoxic Properties against Endothelial Cells and Breast Cancer Cells.

Chronic inflammation is a well-recognised tumour-enabling component, which includes bioactive molecules from cells infiltrating the tumour microenvironment and increases the risk of cancer progression. Since long-term use of the currently available anti-inflammatory drugs used in cancer therapy causes numerous side effects, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an extract isolated from the fungus (CV extract) on HUVEC endothelial cells and MCF-7 breast cancer cells in a pro-inflammatory microenvironment mimicked by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The cells were simultaneously stimulated with the LPS and CV extract.

Protein-Bound Polysaccharides from Fungus Disrupt the Crosstalk Between Breast Cancer Cells and Macrophages through Inhibition of Angiogenic Cytokines Production and Shifting Tumour-Associated Macrophages from the M2 to M1 Subtype.

Background/aims: The tumour microenvironment is rich in multiple cells that influence cancer development. Among them, macrophages are the most abundant immune cells, which secrete factors involved in carcinogenesis. Since protein-bound polysaccharides (PBP) from the fungus are believed to inhibit the growth of cancers, in the present study, we investigated whether these PBP influence crosstalk between triple-negative 4T1 breast cancer cells and RAW 264.

Protein-Bound Polysaccharides from Induce RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL-Mediated Necroptosis in ER-Positive Breast Cancer and Amelanotic Melanoma Cells.

Background/aims: The induction of necroptosis, a form of caspase-independent cell death, represents one of the most promising anticancer therapeutic modalities, as necroptosis serves as an alternative way to eliminate apoptosis-resistant tumor cells. Here, we investigated whether protein-bound polysaccharides (PBPs) derived from the fungus (CV) induce the necroptotic death pathway in breast cancer and melanoma cells.

Methods: MCF-7 and SKMel-188 cells were exposed to PBPs either alone or in combination with necrostatin-1 (Nec-1), GSK'872 or necrosulfonamide (NSA), pharmacological inhibitors of the kinases receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase (RIPK1), receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), respectively, which are involved in necroptotic processes.

New Insights into the Role of Glutathione in the Mechanism of Fever.

Glutathione is one of the most important and potent antioxidants. The development of pharmacological compounds that can either increase or decrease glutathione concentrations has allowed investigation into the role of glutathione in various biological processes, including immune responses. Recent findings have shown that glutathione not only affects certain factors involved in immunological processes but also modifies complex immune reactions such as fever.

Coriolus versicolor-derived protein-bound polysaccharides trigger the caspase-independent cell death pathway in amelanotic but not melanotic melanoma cells.

We have investigated the potential cell death mechanism promoted by Coriolus versicolor fungus-derived protein-bound polysaccharides (PBPs) in melanoma cells. Knowing that melanogenesis has the potential to affect the tumor behavior and melanoma therapy outcome, the cytotoxic effects of PBPs were evaluated in human SKMel-188 melanoma cell line, whose phenotype, amelanotic versus pigmented, depends on the concentration of melanin precursors in the culture medium. Our results showed that inhibitory effect of PBPs (100 and 200 μg/ml) towards melanoma cells is inversely associated with the pigmentation level.

High mobility group box 1 protein released in the course of aseptic necrosis of tissues sensitizes rats to pyrogenic effects of lipopolysaccharide.

It is still an open question as to whether or not aseptic injuries affect the generation of fever due to exogenous pyrogens including bacterial products. Therefore, in the present paper we have investigated the course of endotoxin fever in rats induced with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; given intraperitoneally in a dose of 50 μg/kg) 48 h after subcutaneous administration of turpentine oil (TRP; 0.1 mL per rat) that causes aseptic necrosis of tissues.

Extract from Coriolus versicolor fungus partially prevents endotoxin tolerance development by maintaining febrile response and increasing IL-6 generation.

Endotoxin tolerance is defined as a reduced endotoxin-induced fever following repeated injections of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Clinical examples of endotoxin tolerance include sepsis or cystic fibrosis. This state is characterized by inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines production and decrease in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation.

The weakening effect of soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor AUDA on febrile response to lipopolysaccharide and turpentine in rat.

A still growing body of evidence suggests the importance of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) in the regulation of inflammatory response; therefore, drugs that stabilize their levels by targeting the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), an enzyme responsible for their metabolism, are currently under investigation. The effect of sEH inhibitors on molecular components of fever mechanism, i.e.

Dietary chicory root and chicory inulin trigger changes in energetic metabolism, stress prevention and cytoskeletal proteins in the liver of growing pigs - a proteomic study.

Currently, a wide array of plant preparations exerting health-promoting properties are commonly used as feed additives. Among them, Cichorium intybus L. have gained considerable attention as a source of compounds showing prebiotic character.

Fever-range hyperthermia inhibits cells immune response to protein-bound polysaccharides derived from Coriolus versicolor extract.

The aim of the study was to explore whether fever-range hyperthermia (FRH) might enhance the anticancer and immunoregulatory activities of protein-bound polysaccharides (PBP), a class of fungus derived immunomodifiers used in the cancer adjuvant therapy. Blood lymphocytes and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) were cultured at 39.5°C in humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO for 2h.

Protein-bound polysaccharides from Coriolus versicolor attenuate LPS-induced synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines and stimulate PBMCs proliferation.

Protein-bound polysaccharides (PBP) isolated from Coriolus versicolor (CV) are classified as biological response modifiers capable of exhibiting various biological activities, such as anti-tumour and immunopotentiating activity. Since we have found in vivo studies that the tested PBP induced prolongation of endotoxin fever in rats, the aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro effect of the PBP on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by the lipolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The results showed that the PBP affect the immunomodulating properties of the LPS-treated PBMCs by the enhancement of mitogenic activity and attenuation of the LPS-induced production of interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6.

Chlamydia bacteriophages.

Phages are called "good viruses" due to their ability to infect and kill pathogenic bacteria. Chlamydia are small, Gram-negative (G-) microbes that can be dangerous to human and animals. In humans, these bacteria are etiological agents of diseases such as psittacosis or respiratory tract diseases, while in animals, the infection may result in enteritis in cattle and chronic bowel diseases, as well as miscarriages in sheep.

Genetic variability of Czech and German RHD virus strains.

RHD (rabbit haemorrhagic disease) virus (RHDV) is the aetiological factor of the haemorrhagic disease of rabbits and is currently present on all continents. RHDV is a small, envelope-free virus containing genetic material in the form of a 7437-nucleotide long RNA strand. Studies indicate that genetic variability of RDHV strains originating from various parts of the world is approximately 14%, regardless the time and place of isolation.

Platelet adhesion to multimerin 1 in vitro: influences of platelet membrane receptors, von Willebrand factor and shear.

Background: Multimerin 1 (MMRN1) is a large, homopolymeric adhesive protein, stored in platelets and endothelium, that when released, binds to activated platelets, endothelial cells and the extracellular matrix.

Objectives: The goals of our study were to determine if (i) MMRN1 supports adhesion of resting and/or activated platelets under conditions of blood flow, and (ii) if MMRN1 enhances platelet adhesion to types I and III collagen.

Patients/methods: Platelet adhesion was evaluated using protein-coated microcapillaries, with or without added adhesive proteins and receptor antibodies.

[Human diseases caused by chlamydia and chlamydophila].

Chlamydiae and Chlamydophilae are bacteria which are very common in the environment, the proof of which can be the recently described "environmental Chlamydiae". The classical Chlamydiae, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila pneumoniae, posed a threat to human health, causing several diseases, including those with lethal course. In this article the biology and systematics of these bacteria and the diseases caused by them in humans, including those caused by classical and environmental Chlamydiae, are presented.

Immune response in farm animals infected or immunised with bacteria of Chlamydia sp. and Chlamydophila sp. genus.

Bacteria from genera Chlamydia (Ch.) and Chlamydophila (Chl.) are very pathogenic and may infect humans and animals.

Selective indices on non-specific cell-mediated immunity in rabbits immunized with Chlamydophila psittaci.

Introduction: Studies of non-specific immunity in infection or immunization with Chlamydophila (Chl.) Psittaci in static experimental models showed changes in parameters of this immunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate selected parameters of non-specific immunity in rabbits immunized with Chl.

[Chlamydia, Chlamydophila, and specific cellular immunity].

In this paper studies are presented on specific cell-mediated immunity in humans and in laboratory and farm animals upon infection or immunization with bacteria of the genera Chlamydia and Chlamydophila. Such infection or immunization was demonstrated to affect the total number of T lymphocytes, their subpopulation profiles their cytotoxicity, and the activity of cytokines. The changes appeared already a few hours after infection or immunization and persisted for days or weeks.

Lymphocytes and their subpopulations in peripheral blood of rabbits immunised with Chlamydia psittaci-Gocaltovo strain.

The effects of immunisation with Chlamydia psittaci-Gocaltovo strain were examined on the dynamic alterations in lymphocytes T and B and in their subpopulations in the peripheral blood of rabbits; the titer of specific anti-Chlamydia antibodies was also established. The results showed that the examined strain induced alterations in the form of an increased or decreased number of T and/or B lymphocytes and in their subpopulations, and that immunity conditioned by the cells proved to be a very significant variable in infection with Chlamydia psittaci (at present Chlamydophila abortus). Alterations in the immune pattern developed earlier by 35 days as compared to positive titers of specific antibodies.