Protection of liver cells against experimental damage by extract of cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia (LEM).

Liver cell damage can be induced when isolated liver cells coated with specific antibodies against the liver cell membrane are cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Although this antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) is dependent on the close contact of effector cells with target cells via specific antibodies, a cytotoxic factor or factors causing the inhibition of protein synthesis in liver cells has been detected in the culture supernatant from the ADCC reaction. Similarly, peritoneal exudate macrophages activated by endotoxin lipopolysaccharide also exert cytotoxic effects on isolated liver cells by production of a cytotoxic substance or substances. The liver cell damage caused by either the ADCC or activated macrophage culture supernatants were significantly reduced by pretreating the isolated liver cells with the extract of cultured Lentinus edodes mycelia (LEM). These results suggest that LEM may protect liver cells from immunological damage.