In Vitro Expression of Toll-Like Receptors and Proinflammatory Molecules Induced by Ergosta- 7,22-Dien-3-One Isolated from a Wild Mexican Strain of Ganoderma oerstedii (Agaricomycetes).

Compounds showing pharmacological activity on the immune system are of interest because of their therapeutic potential in the treatment of many diseases. However, data from primary human immune cells and in vivo studies are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the ability to induce the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and proinflammatory molecules on cells involved in the immune system using the compound ergosta-7,22-dien-3- one, isolated from a wild Mexican strain of Ganoderma oerstedii. According to our study, ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one did not present any cytotoxic effect on HeLa or J774A.1 cells, and it was able to stimulate nitric oxide production, induce the expression of genes, and induce the production of TLRs, cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules in J774A.1 cells, based on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Here we report a new pro-inflammatory property of ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one, which should be considered as a possible adjuvant property in view of its biological activity.