Abstract: The immunoregulatory effect of Lentinus edodes ultrafine powder in 12 healthy subjects was explored by analyzing changes in serum levels of 39 cytokines using a Millipore Human Kit and a liquid chip scanner. Lentinus edodes ingestion at a dose of 5 g resulted in a significant increase in EGF level and a significant reduction in IP-10 level, G-CSF, IL-12(p70), IP-10 and MCP-1 levels showed a significant decrease after ingestion of 10 g of Lentinus edodes, and significant decreases in Eotaxin, G-CSF, IL-12(p70), MCP-1, MIP-1β and TGF-α were observed when the dose was further increased to 15 g. Through online information searching, we obtained data on the specific target cells of cytokines found to show significant changes in response to Lentinus edodes ingestion at each dose and those responsible for their synthesis and secretion. Based on the obtained data, we constructed cell-cell communication networks that represent intercellular interactions. The constructed intercellular communication networks demonstrated that ingestion of 5 g of Lentinus edodes had dual immunoregulatory effects in humans, while a down-regulatory effect on human immune functions was found at doses of 10 g and 15 g. Moreover, different cytokines significantly changed and there were different cell-cell communication regulations in response to different doses of Lentinus edodes. In conclusion, high-dose Lentinus edodes ingestion has powerful regulatory effects on human immune system. Furthermore, it is speculated that Lentinus edodes has anti-inflammatory, anti-agllergic, anti-atherosclerotic and anti-tumor functions.

Key words: Lentinus edodes, cytokines, cell-cell communication network, regulatory effect