2. Academic Validation
  3. Preparation of the sphingolipid fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis and its immunosuppressive activity

Preparation of the sphingolipid fraction from mycelia of Cordyceps sinensis and its immunosuppressive activity

  • J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Jun 12;291:115126. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115126.
Rumeng Wu 1,  Qiangqiang Jia 2,  Xiuzhang Li 3,  Yufeng Ma 4,  Jie Zhang 5,  Yuling Li 6,  Shoude Zhang 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, 251# Ningda Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China; Medical College of Qinghai University, 16# Kunlun Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: rumeng.wu@foxmail.com.
  • 2 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, 251# Ningda Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: jia1108029@163.com.
  • 3 Qinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, 1# Weier Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: xiuzhang11@163.com.
  • 4 Medical College of Qinghai University, 16# Kunlun Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: yufen.ma@foxmail.com.
  • 5 Medical College of Qinghai University, 16# Kunlun Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: jie.zhang1@foxmail.com.
  • 6 Qinghai Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, 1# Weier Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: yulingli2000@163.com.
  • 7 State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, 251# Ningda Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China; Medical College of Qinghai University, 16# Kunlun Road, Xining, 810016, Qinghai, China. Electronic address: shoude.zhang@qhu.edu.cn.
PMID: 35189280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115126
Abstract

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Cordyceps sinensis (CS) is an herbal tonic in traditional Chinese medicine and is used to treat a wide range of disorders, including immune, kidney, respiratory, lung and cardiovascular diseases, in China. Most studies are focused mainly on nucleotides and Polysaccharides from CS and consider them to be the main active ingredients, while Other ingredients are often disregarded. Hundreds of sphingolipids have been identified from CS and showed inhibitory effects on mouse splenic lymphocytes.

Aim of the study: This study aimed to establish a method for preparing a fraction of sphingolipids from the mycelial powder of CS and evaluate its immunosuppressive activity.

Materials and methods: Fraction of sphingolipids (Fr-SPLs) were prepared by silica gel chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. Its components were identified and quantified by Quadrupole-Orbitrap UHPLC-MS/MS. PBMCs were prepared from human blood, and splenic lymphocytes, B cells, and T cells were prepared from mouse spleens. The inhibitory effect of Fr-SPLs on cell viability was evaluated by CCK-8 assay. PBMC Apoptosis and the ratio of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were quantified by flow cytometry analysis. The expression of IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α in PBMCs was detected by ELISA kits.

Results: A fraction containing 84.83% of sphingolipids (SPLs) was prepared from the mycelia of CS and named Fr-SPLs. 15 SPLs were identified from the Fr-SPLs. Fr-SPLs significantly inhibited the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with an IC50 value of 9.82 μg/mL and promoted PBMC Apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Fr-SPLs inhibited the viability of mouse splenocytes, as well as that of B cells and T cells derived from splenocytes. Furthermore, Fr-SPLs reduced the production of IL-2, IL-10, and TNF-α in PBMCs.

Conclusions: Fr-SPLs show immunosuppressive activity, and this study will be useful for preparing immunosuppressive components from CS and its mycelia for hyperimmune disease.

Keywords

Cordyceps sinensis; Immunosuppressive effect; PBMC; Sphingolipids; UHPLC–MS/MS.

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