Abstract
This study investigated the anti-metastatic effects of antrodan, the glycoprotein from Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) mycelia, through direct actions and indirect immunomodulatory effects in Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). Antrodan was isolated from AC mycelia by alkali extraction, acid precipitation, and purification using sepharose CL-6B column chromatography. In the direct anti-metastatic action, antrodan (30-70 μg/mL) was found to significantly inhibit invasion and migration of LLC cells, and these effects involved up-regulation of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, TIMP-2, and nm23-H1 protein expression leading to decreased activities and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. For testing the indirect immunomodulatory effect, antrodan was incubated for 3d with mononuclear cells (MNCs) isolated from human peripheral blood to obtain the condition medium (CM). Antrodan significantly increased interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-1β levels, but decreased TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 levels in the MMC-CM, which also significantly inhibited invasion, migration, and the activities and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, but significantly increased protein expression of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and nm23-H1 in LLC cells. The indirect immunomodulatory effect of antrodan was stronger than the direct anti-metastatic effect at the same concentrations (50 and 60 μg/mL). Overall, the results suggest the anti-metastatic potential of antrodan in LLC cells.