Comparison of intraperitoneal anti-adhesive polysaccharides derived from Phellinus mushrooms in a rat peritonitis model.

AIM: To assess the adhesion- and abscess-reducing capacities of various concentrations of polysaccharides derived from fungus, Phellinus gilvus (PG) or Phellinus linteus (PL) in a rat peritonitis model.

METHODS: In 96 SD rats, experimental peritonitis was induced using the cecal ligation and puncture model (CLP). Rats were randomly assigned to 8 groups; Ringer's lactate solution (RL group), hyaluronic acid (HA group), 0.025%, 0.25%, and 0.5% polysaccharides from PG (PG0.025, 0.25, and 0.5 groups), and PL (PL0.025, 0.25, and 0.5 groups). Adhesions and abscesses were noted at 7 d after CLP. RT-PCR assay was performed to assess the cecal tissue.

RESULTS: Adhesion formation was significantly reduced in PG0.25, 0.5, PL0.25, 0.5, and HA groups (2.5+/-0.7, 2.4+/-0.7, 3.8+/-1.0, 3.6+/-0.8, and 2.7+/-1.1, P<0.05). The incidence of abscesses was significantly reduced in all treated groups compared to RL group (58%, P<0.05). The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) gene expression was greatly up-regulated by increasing the concentration of polysaccharides. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA were highly expressed in PG0.25, 0.5, PL0.25, and 0.5 groups.

CONCLUSION: We concluded that 0.5% polysaccharide derived from PG and PL was the optimal concentration in preventing adhesion and abscess formation and may act by modulating activity of uPA and TNF-alpha in a rat peritonitis model.