The protective effects against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression of three glucomannans

The protective effects against cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced immunosuppression of three glucomannans from Dendrobium officinale (DOP), Aloe (ASP), and Konjac (KGM) respectively are investigated from the aspects of cellular and humoral immunity. Results showed that glucomannans enhanced the secretion of T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines and the proportion of CD4 T lymphocytes, promoted the subpopulation of T lymphocytes by upregulating T-bet and GATA-3 mRNA expressions. Meanwhile, glucomannans increased the secretion of immunoglobulins, stimulated the differentiation of plasmocytes by up-regulating IRF4, Blimp-1 and XBP-1 mRNA expressions. In addition, DOP had better effects on promoting T lymphocytes function and immunoglobulins production, KGM showed better effects in increasing cytokines production, while ASP had better effects in stimulating Th1 type immune response. These results suggested that all three glucomannans from different sources exhibited immunoregulatory function, however, each expressed their bioactivities in different mechanisms.