[Effect of Tremella polysaccharide on IL-2 production by mouse splenocytes]

Tremella polysaccharide (TP) is an important component isolated from Tremella fuciformis Berk. In this study, the in vitro effect of TP on IL-2 production was examined in activated mouse splenocytes. TP (1, 5, 10 and 50 micrograms/ml) significantly increased mouse splenocyte IIL-2 production. In aged mice, the level of IL-2 production is much lower than that in young controls. TP (0.05, 0.5 and 5 micrograms/ml) restored the IL-2 production to normal level as the young control. Furthermore, TP (0.05, 0.5 and 5 micrograms/ml) was found to partly antagonize the suppressive effect of hydrocortisone on IL-2 production. The antagonistic effect of TP (5 micrograms/ml) on the inhibitory activity of cyclosporin A was also observed.