Herbal remedies have long played a role in human well-being and depend mostly on anecdotal and historical reports to support their use. Over the last three decades, the application of scientific methodology has partly elucidated the underlying mechanisms of some herbal treatments. Indeed, many chemotherapeutic agents currently in use, including topotecan (1), etoposide, teniposide (1, 2), docetaxel, and paclitaxel (3), are derived from herbal origins. With the recent and growing interest in immunotherapy, some investigators have turned to natural products in search of immunomodulatory compounds (4).

A particularly interesting source of immunomodulatory agents is the Coriolus versicolor (CV) mushroom, also referred to as Yun zhi (China), Kawaratake (Japan), Turkey tail (North America), or any of Agaricus/Boletus/Polyporus/Poria/Trametes versicolor plants. Ancient Chinese formulations of CV have long been believed to generally promote health, strength, and longevity. Laboratory studies suggest it may have antimicrobial, antiviral, and antitumor properties. Products using CV extracts are currently approved as adjunct therapy in China and Japan for cancer patients already receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

The bioactive components of CV extracts include two polysaccharopeptides (PSPs) derived from two different strains of CV: COV-1 (PSP) most commonly used in China and CM101 (polysaccharide krestin, PSK) used in Japan. Both molecules are about 100 kDa with respective polysaccharide-to-peptide balance of 90–10% in PSP, and 60–40% in PSK. The carbohydrate moieties of each compound consist of mannose, xylose, galactose, in addition to fructose in PSP or arabinose and rhamnose in PSK. PSP is typically isolated by boiling COV-1 mycelia or fruiting bodies in water, followed by precipitation in ethanol.

Numerous studies in vitro, in vivo, and some clinical trials have reported immunopotentiation by Yun zhi—leading to its adoption as an adjunct therapy for cancer in many Eastern countries. This review aims to summarize the English literature on the immunomodulatory effects of CV extracts, with a particular focus on PSP. Reports of its effects on cytokine release, and especially on its potential to activate natural killer (NK) cells, are followed by examining the activity of PSP on inflammatory immune subsets and a brief overview of relevant clinical studies.

The best reported immunomodulatory effect of PSP is its induction of predominantly pro-inflammatory cytokines. Yun zhi has a potent effect on in vivo and in vitro expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, commonly of interest for its ability to induce apoptosis and its potent tumoricidal activity (5). Primary mouse peritoneal macrophages treated with PSP in vitro showed increased TNF-α release comparable to levels achieved by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation (6). When human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors were incubated in PSP for 18 h, either in the presence or absence of phytohemagglutinin (PHA, a T cell mitogen), there was a more than 3.5-fold increase in TNF-α secretion (7). PBMCs from breast cancer patients also exhibited increased TNF-α expression and protein production in response to PSP, an effect not abrogated by blockade of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), suggesting that PSP is independent of TLR4 activation (8). In vivo, peritoneal macrophages from healthy mice injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with PSP produced significantly higher amounts of TNF-α compared with saline controls (6). A similar increase in TNF levels was observed when mice with subcutaneous (s.c.) tumors derived from the herpes virus Type 2 transformation of a murine fibroblastic origin (the H238 line) received PSP s.c. for 11 days. Tumor specimens from mice treated with PSP alone had higher expression of TNF-α than untreated controls (9). Administration of PSP i.p. also resulted in a significant increase in serum TNF levels in healthy rats (10, 11).

The ability of PSP to induce cytokines associated with TNF-α was also demonstrated through its induction of IL-12, a T helper 1 (Th1)-related cytokine capable of enhancing NK and CD8⁺ T cell cytotoxic activities and their expression of TNF-α. The incubation of murine splenic lymphocytes with CV extract for 48 or 72 h resulted in a threefold increase in IL-12 production compared to control samples (12). Similar effects were demonstrated in PBMCs from breast cancer patients, showing an increase in protein production of IL-12 after treatment with PSP and PHA (8). Moreover, IL-12 is a known inducer of interferon (IFN)-γ, a potent immunostimulatory cytokine, and PSP consistently leads to IFN-γ expression. PBMCs from healthy donors and breast cancer patients showed increased production of IFN-γ when treated with PSP and PHA, respectively, for 24, 15, or 72 h (7). Similarly, 24-h incubation in CV extract resulted in increased production of IFN-γ by murine splenic lymphocytes. Incubation of these cells was also able to increase IL-2 (almost eightfold) and IL-18 (about twofold), both of which are Th1-related cytokines able to induce IFN-γ production by NK and T cells (12).

Polysaccharopeptide can also induce the pleiotropic cytokine, interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Classically considered a pro-inflammatory signal, it is typically elicited in response to TLR signaling and can serve to enhance lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation (13). Primary mouse peritoneal macrophages treated with PSP in vitro induced IL-1β in a time- and dose-dependent manner up to levels comparable to induction by LPS (6). When these healthy mice were injected i.p. with PSP, their peritoneal macrophages were capable of producing significantly higher amounts of IL-1β compared with saline controls (6). Another closely related cytokine affected by PSP is IL-1α. When human PBMCs were cultured with PSP for 24 h, IL-1α production increased threefold (14). While also pleiotropic in its effects, IL-1α can serve to costimulate CD8⁺ T cells and enhance antigen presentation by tumor cells (15). In addition, the increased release of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), stimulators of hematopoiesis that tend to be pro-inflammatory but also have pleiotropic effects, by PBMCs from healthy donors were observed upon culture with PSP and PHA (14). Similar effects were observed when healthy mice injected with PSP led to increased expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) (16), a related multifunctional growth factor.

Extracts of CV have in addition been shown to affect the expression of other pleiotropic cytokines, including transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, which has pro-inflammatory effects on monocytes and Th17 cells, and anti-inflammatory effects on B cells, T regulatory cells (Tregs), and activated macrophages (17, 18). In mice carrying s.c. H238 tumors treated s.c. with PSP alone for 11 days, tumor specimens had a slight decrease in TGF-β staining (compared with untreated controls), which was significantly augmented by IL-2 cotreatment (9). PSP also affected levels of IL-6, which has pro-inflammatory activity through its enhancement of B cell antibody production and B helper activity, inhibition of Treg differentiation, and induction of acute phase proteins (19). IL-6 also has anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of TNF-α and IL-1 (20) and plays a role in the generation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (21). Healthy rats with prolonged LPS-induced fever due to PSP pre-treatment (i.p.) exhibited elevated blood IL-6 levels and this prolongation was abrogated by anti-IL-6 antibody treatment (14). Similar results showed that PSP treatment of the acute myeloid leukemia line, HL-60 resulted in a dose-dependent increase of IL-6 release (22), while 24-h treatment with PSP and PHA of human PBMCs from breast cancer patients also showed increased IL-6 expression (8). Similar results were obtained with PBMCs from healthy donors (14).

In addition to directly affecting cytokine release by immune cells, CV extracts increase the sensitivity of these cells to other stimuli and exert a synergistic effect with other factors. For example, peritoneal macrophages isolated from healthy mice orally administered PSP showed increased TNF-α production in response to LPS stimulation (23). Culturing human liver carcinoma cells, HepG2, with a non-toxic dose of PSP increased their susceptibility to cyclophosphamide cytotoxicity in a synergistic manner (24). Testing PSP on the herpes-transformed H238 murine line in vitro decreased their DNA synthesis in a manner that synergized with the supplementation of IL-2 (23). Taken together, these studies implicate a stimulatory effect of CV extracts on the immune system.

Polysaccharopeptide appears to protect against the adverse effects of radiation. Intragingival administration of CV extract for 10 days reversed decreases in spleen weight and splenocyte DNA synthesis after healthy mice received a single dose of 1 Gy whole-body irradiation (25). Interestingly, in a s.c. tumor model, mice that received radiation alone had the lowest tumor growth compared with groups that received PSP with or without radiation. This may be due to PSP’s ability to induce scavenging of oxygen radicals (thereby weakening radiation efficacy) and/or through enhanced lymphoid infiltration of tumors in the presence of PSP. In support of the latter, PSP-treated animals (particularly those not subjected to any radiation) showed increases in phagocytic, NK, T, and B cell counts in their blood and spleens (26). This systemic increase in immune activation could have led to augmented tumor infiltration (and thus apparently larger tumor volumes), but this cannot be definitively concluded as the immune subsets within the tumor microenvironment were not reported in that study.

Polysaccharopeptide has a wide range of mostly stimulatory effects on other immune cell types. The proliferation of cultured splenocytes was significantly augmented by incubation with CV extract in vitro (12). Human PBMCs incubated in PSP and PHA showed a time-dependent increase in proliferative responses (7), while non-stimulated human lymphocytes treated with PSP showed a dose-dependent enhancement of proliferative activity (35). A 48-h culture with PSP decreased Fas receptor expression of non-stimulated lymphocytes and synergized with cyclosporine for a similar effect on PHA-stimulated cells, hinting at a protective role of PSP against extrinsic death signals (35). PSP can also affect monocytes and macrophages. Healthy human PBMCs treated for 48 h showed an increase in the number of CD14⁺CD16⁻MHCII⁺ monocytes (36), while several studies suggest that PSP increases the phagocytic activity of macrophages in culture and in vivo (37). The in vitro treatment of purified murine splenic B cells with CV extract showed a strong proliferative response, which can be inhibited by BCR blocking antibody, implicating its role in CV-mediated B cell activation (38).

Similar proliferation and activation responses were observed in various animal studies as well. After oral administration of PSP to healthy mice for 2 weeks, isolated peritoneal macrophages showed increased production of reactive nitrogen intermediates and superoxide anions in response to in vitro stimulation (23), while macrophages and T cells from healthy mice force-fed CV extract for a week showed enhanced nitrite production and proliferative mitogenic response, respectively (33). Lymphocytes isolated from rats administered PSP orally for 2 weeks showed enhanced lymphocyte proliferation and rescue from the negative effect of cyclophosphamide chemotherapy, while NK cells from these healthy animals showed a comparable trend in cytolytic function (39). These results are noteworthy, given the typical route of administration for PSP in a clinical setting is oral. In addition, the treatment of healthy nude mice (i.p.) with CV extract for 2 weeks resulted in an increased white blood and neutrophil count (37). Mice carrying s.c. H238 tumors injected s.c. with PSP exhibited an increase in lymphocyte numbers and, when combined with IL-2, in splenocyte stimulation by PHA. PSP also slowed the tumor progression of these mice, although not as effectively as IL-2 alone (9).

Some of these enhanced proliferative effects on leukocytes are likely due to the pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by PSP, but that may not be the sole factor in play. When murine peritoneal macrophages were isolated after a 5-min i.p. treatment with PSP, they exhibited 1.8-fold heightened release of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) (6). Prostaglandins are a group of hormone-like lipid compounds with multiple effects, including the regulation of inflammation (40). In particular, PGE₂ has previously been shown to stimulate Th1 differentiation (41, 42), alter dendritic cell (DC) migration and costimulatory molecule expression (41, 43), and enhance TNF-α production by NK cells (44). The combination of PGE₂ with other previously reported cytokines induced by PSP (specifically TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) can enhance the migratory and immunostimulatory capacity of DCs in culture (45). These cells play a crucial role in contact-dependent activation of NK cytolytic activity and are often activated by NK-derived IFN-γ and TNF-α (46). While PGE₂ has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects through the Th2 axis, many have argued that its activity is pleiotropic and largely context dependent. Again, it is important to understand that this increased PGE₂ expression may inadvertently enhance MDSC maturation (21).

While cell culture and animal models are crucial interrogation tools, they are limited—both biologically and technically. Rodent immune systems are intrinsically different in their development, composition, and extent of response to stimuli. Moreover, many of the previously mentioned studies may be unintentionally biased, as they did not report endotoxin testing of the PSP/CV product before its administration (9–12, 16, 23, 25, 33, 38, 39, 47, 53, 81, 86, 87). In addition, while most in vivo studies used intraperitoneal (6, 10, 11, 81, 83, 87) or s.c. delivery of PSP (9, 26), they are less relevant physiologically (at least in a clinical context) than models using force-feeding (33), oral delivery (23, 39, 47), or even intragingival injections (25).

The success of PSP in preclinical models has nonetheless prompted many to investigate CV-derived products as potentially adjunctive therapy to standard chemotherapy or radiotherapy regimens for various malignancies. To confirm whether its immunostimulatory effects carry forth from animal models to humans in homeostatic conditions, a double-blind, crossover study recruited healthy volunteers for a 10-month study period. The participants were randomized to receive capsules of PSP (plus another herbal derivative, Danshen) or a placebo, with those receiving PSP showing increased T helper cell counts and percentage, and their PBMCs showing elevated expression of IL-2R, as well as increased production of IFN-γ upon stimulation (88). Another randomized trial compared the effects of PSP and amoxicillin on gut microbiome composition and showed effects similar to prebiotic treatment (89), which suggest a benefit on gut/mucosal immunology when delivered orally. Indeed, of the patients positive for oral human papilloma virus treated with CV extract (plus another herbal extract, ganoderma lucidum), almost 90% cleared the virus after 2 months of treatment (90). The impact of patient gut microbiota on the success of PSP’s immunomodulatory effects is a surprisingly underinvestigated area that will likely shed light on the mechanisms involved in responses to orally delivered PSP.

It is also of interest to test whether the stimulatory effects of PSP may alleviate the immunoinhibitory environment in cancer patients, particularly after chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In a dose-escalation trial with nine breast cancer patients, CV extract was administered after the completion of radiotherapy and was shown to increase NK cytotoxic function and lymphocyte counts, with CD8⁺ T cells and CD19⁺ B cells increasing dose dependently (91). Similarly, more than 80 previously treated breast cancer patients were given PSP/Danshen capsules for 6 months, leading to increased T-helper and B cell counts and proportions. However, these patients showed significant decreases in serum IL-2R (92), which could indicate that previously reported increases in IL-2R gene expression lead to increased surface, and not secretory, levels (88). Increases in leukocyte and neutrophil counts, as well as serum IgG and IgM levels, were observed in non-small cell lung cancer patients randomized to PSP treatment. While no improvements were observed for disease-related parameters, less PSP-treated patients were withdrawn from the study due to disease progression (93). In addition, these patients also showed improvements in their body fat measures, further implicating PSP in affecting the microbiota and/or the mucosal immune system (94, 95). Radiation-induced lymphopenia (particularly T cells) was also alleviated following PSP/Danshen treatment in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients (96). Indeed, PSP has been shown to significantly extend the 5-year survival of esophageal cancer patients in a double-blind trial and was reported to relieve pain and enhance immunity in a majority of esophageal, lung, stomach, ovarian, and cervical cancer patients reviewed by Kidd (97). In lung, gastric and esophageal carcinoma, PSP was also associated (to varying degrees) with alleviated symptoms, improved NK activity, increased IL-2 production and CD4 T cell levels, protective effects against radiation-induced lymphopenia, and improved survival rates when combined with radiotherapy. It was also reported to lead to tumor regression in liver carcinoma patients (98). Overall, the clinical application of PSP adjunct therapy for various malignancies suggests disease-related improvement: amelioration of tumor-associated symptoms, reduction in disease progression, and increased survival rates. Rigorous randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these observations.

Preclinical in vitro and in vivo data suggest that PSP has immunomodulatory (largely immunostimulatory) effects that may be beneficial (summarized in Figure 2; Table 1), particularly when combined with anticancer treatment. The immediate effect of a PSP-mediated cytokine profile on the tumor microenvironment requires further study to determine whether changes operate locally at the tumor site or act systemically to boost the immune system via paracrine mechanisms. Most cytokine changes induced by PSP may particularly affect NK cells, acting to enhance cytotoxic activity, trafficking and adhesion to target cells and promote NK cell proliferation. However, it remains to be determined how much of the induced cytokine profile in vivo is an indirect effect in response to the tumoricidal activity by PSP, given that it can interrupt the cell cycle, induce apoptosis, and sensitize tumor cells to other chemotherapeutic agents.

Polysaccharopeptide also has notable effects on various other immune subsets. Separate studies on CV extracts or PSP show increased proliferation of rodent splenocytes, T and B cells, NK cells and neutrophils, as well as human PBMCs, lymphocytes. A reduction in lymphocyte Fas receptor levels, and increased monocyte counts can also occur. PSP appears to sensitize tumors to, and alleviate the symptoms of radiation and chemotherapy, but more careful examination of underlying mechanisms is lacking and urgently needed, especially given the increasingly common use of CV extracts as adjunct therapy in some medical communities.

Clinical studies with PSP may be easier to interpret than some of the preclinical data. Although the data may be encouraging, a mechanistic understanding of how PSP induces its immunomodulatory effects remains lacking. Additional data at the cellular and molecular levels after oral administration of PSP are likely to provide impetus for the design and initiation of rigorous prospective trials of adjunct therapy.

Reports focusing on the mostly positive immunomodulatory effects of CV indicate the need to conduct rigorous studies to identify underlying mechanisms of action. Future work must focus on better defining the specific molecular targets of PSP using transgenic mouse models and loss of function strategies of likely targets. More stringent characterization of the components of PSP to better define the peptide moiety of the molecule is required. Currently, the Protein Data Bank contains only one entry of a protein derived from CV, a polyphenol oxidase (PDB: 1GYC). While the structure of the polysaccharide moiety is informative, identifying the peptide portion of PSP will provide clues to relevant cell surface receptors. The use of established techniques in analytical and medicinal chemistry holds potential for generating more potent drugs based on PSP structure and mechanisms of action and an opportunity to optimize efficacy and mitigate off-target effects.

MS and AK determined the scope of the paper. MS conducted the literature review and prepared the manuscript. IR contributed to discussion, revision, and finalization of the manuscript. AK advised MS, supervised the paper’s completion, and revised the manuscript.

AK has received funding from Purapharm Inc. Hong Kong to investigate the effect of extracts of traditional Chinese herbal medicines, including Yun Zhi, on the cytolytic activity of NK cells. MS and IR declare no conflict of interest.