Immunomodulation and antitumor activity of polysaccharide-protein complex from the culture filtrates of a local edible mushroom, Tricholoma lobayense.

1. The polysaccharide-protein complex (PSPC) isolated from the culture filtrate of Tricholoma lobayense showed antitumor activity in mice. 2. PSPC had the ability to restore the phagocytic function of peritoneal exudate cells (PEC) and T-cell mitogenic activity of tumor-bearing mice. 3. An increase in the production of reactive nitrogen intermediates and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was determined in PEC of mice that had received PSPC. 4. The present study showed that PSPC both induced the various immune responses in vivo and exhibited cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines in the presence of PSPC at doses of 30 and 60 micrograms/ml in vitro.