Fungal immunomodulatory protein from Flammulina velutipes induces interferon-gamma production through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway

FIP-fve is a fungal immunomodulatory protein purified from Flammulina velutipes, an edible golden needle mushroom thought to possess potent immunomodulatory properties. When examined for its effects on lymphocytes, FIP-fve exhibited potent mitogenic effects on human peripheral blood lymphocytes, inducing G1/G0 to S phase proliferation. T cells activated by FIP-fve show significant production and secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) associated with intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression but low detectable levels of interleukin-4 in vitro or in vivo. However, SB203580, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor, can fully abolish the production of IFN-gamma induced by FIP-fve. At the same time, SB203580 only partially prevents the lymphocytes from progressing from G1 to S phase of the cell cycle. These findings demonstrate that FIP-fve is a potent T-cell activator, mediating its effects via cytokine regulation of p38 MAPK. The immunoprophylatic effects of FIP-fve in Th2-mediated allergic anaphylaxis are believed to be associated with the ability of FIP-fve to enhance activation of IFN-gamma-releasing Th1 cells.