Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 6, 2026

Studying the Effects of Tumor-Secreted Paracrine Ligands on Macrophage Activation using Co-Culture with Permeable Membrane Supports
Published on: November 28, 2019
Galactan isolated from Cantharellus cibarius modulates antitumor immune response by converting tumor-associated
Yue Meng1, Yunhe Qu1, Wenjing Wu1
1Jilin Province Key Laboratory on Chemistry and Biology of Changbai Mountain Natural Drugs, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, PR China.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with an M2-like phenotype have been linked to the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Resetting tumor-associated macrophages represents an attractive target for an effective cancer immunotherapy. WCCP-N-b, a novel linear 3-O-methylated galactan, isolated from Cantharellus cibarius, can convert tumor-promoting M2-like macrophages to tumor-inhibiting M1-like phenotype. On a cellular mechanistic level, WCCP-N-b inhibited M2-like macrophages polarization through suppression of STAT6 activation. Furthermore, WCCP-N-b increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and degradation of IκB-α through targeting Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). The activation of MAPKs and degradation of IκB-α were responsible for converting M2-like macrophages to M1-like macrophages. Importantly, cell culture supernatants of WCCP-N-b-treated M2-like macrophages could inhibit the cell viability of B16F1 and B16F10. Our findings provide a potential natural and harmless polysaccharide for macrophage-based tumor immunotherapy.
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with an M2-like phenotype have been linked to the proliferation, invasion and metastasis of tumor cells. Resetting tumor-associated macrophages represents an attractive target for an effective cancer immunotherapy. WCCP-N-b, a novel linear 3-O-methylated galactan, isolated from Cantharellus cibarius, can convert tumor-promoting M2-like macrophages to tumor-inhibiting M1-like phenotype. On a cellular mechanistic level, WCCP-N-b inhibited M2-like macrophages polarization through suppression of STAT6 activation. Furthermore, WCCP-N-b increased the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and degradation of IκB-α through targeting Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). The activation of MAPKs and degradation of IκB-α were responsible for converting M2-like macrophages to M1-like macrophages. Importantly, cell culture supernatants of WCCP-N-b-treated M2-like macrophages could inhibit the cell viability of B16F1 and B16F10. Our findings provide a potential natural and harmless polysaccharide for macrophage-based tumor immunotherapy.

