| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 免疫學研究所 === 107 === Ling-Zhi 8 (LZ-8), known as a fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP), is isolated from Ganoderma lucidium. LZ-8 has ability to activate, expand and regulate immune cells. Recently, LZ-8 has been shown to induce regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion and these Treg cells alleviate intestinal inflammation in mouse colitis model. In addition, LZ-8 may inhibit the growth of some types of cancer cell. While many LZ-8 studies have been done in immune and cancer cells, the researches of LZ-8 in epithelial cells are rare. In this study, we explore the effect of LZ-8 on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and focus on tight junctions, which form intestinal barrier between lumen and lamina propia. According to our preliminary data, LZ-8 may increase the expression of tight junction proteins such as occludin and ZO-1 and protect IECs against pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced barrier dysfunction. The mechanism for this effect is through downregulating synthesis of myosin light chain kinase which further inhibits tight junction protein from damaging. Since the integrity of IECs is critical in the pathogenesis of IBD, we will examine the possible function of LZ-8 on IECs in a mouse IBD model.
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