Edible fungus polysaccharides are a kind of natural macromolecule polymer composed of more than 10 monosaccharides connected by glycosidic bonds, with a spiral three-dimensional configuration. There are many types of monosaccharides that make up polysaccharides, including more than 10 kinds of glucose, fructose, galactose, rhamnose, xylose, fucose, arabinose, etc. Common polysaccharides include Shiitake, Wolfberry, Tremella, Reishi, Black Fungus, Enoki mushroom, Lion's mane mushromm and so on.
Polysaccharide compounds are widely present in animals, plants and microorganisms. They are one of the important components of living substances. They participate in the regulation of cell composition and physiological processes, and have an irreplaceable effect on the immune function of the human body. Among the polysaccharides, one type is starch, pectin, cellulose, etc. These polysaccharides basically have no specific biological activity. Another type of polysaccharides are non-starch polysaccharides, which have a wide variety of complex structures and special biological activities, such as Reishi polysaccharides, Tremella polysaccharides, wolfberry polysaccharides, etc. These polysaccharides have a regulatory effect on the immune function of the human body. As an immunomodulator, they can activate immune receptors and improve the body's immune function. For example, they can activate immune cells such as T, B lymphocytes, macrophages, and NK cells. They can also activate complement and promote the production of cytokines, which can regulate the immune system in many ways.
The regulatory effect of polysaccharides on cellular immune function is mainly to promote the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes, and the same mitogen PHA or ConA promotes the proliferation, transformation and release of T lymphocytes to peripheral lymphatic tissues. In addition, polysaccharides can also promote the production and secretion of cytokines. Many polysaccharides have a regulatory effect on humoral immune function, which is mediated by B lymphocytes for immune response through the secretion of antibodies. For example, wolfberry polysaccharide and velvet antler polysaccharide can enhance immune function, especially the target cell of goji berry polysaccharide immune activity is B cell.
In addition, polysaccharides can affect signal transduction in the immune system by affecting the secretion of lymphokines, monocytes, and intracellular calcium ions, cGMP and cAMP concentrations. Cell signal transduction plays a vital role in the response of cells to the external environment, normal cell metabolism, proliferation, growth, differentiation, senescence and death. The signal transduction system of the human body mainly includes the endocrine hormone system, nervous system and immune system. When the human body is invaded by foreign bacteria and viruses, the signal transduction system immediately transmits extracellular information to the immune response system, and finally produces specific effects in the cell. For example, after lymphocytes are stimulated, they activate receptors on the cell membrane surface and cause cell proliferation, differentiation and functional changes, and secretion of lymphokines.
