Ganoderma lucidum suppresses endothelial cell cytotoxicity and proteinuria in persistent proteinuric focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) nephrosis

• Published in: Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 267 - 272
• Main Authors: Futrakul, Narisa, Panichakul, Tasanee, Butthep, Punnee, Futrakul, Prasit, Jetanalin, Pim, Patumraj, Suthiluk, Siriviriyakul, Prasong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2004
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Cell Death; Cyclophosphamide - therapeutic use; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - drug effects; Cytokines - immunology; Drug Therapy, Combination; Endothelial Cells - drug effects; Endothelial Cells - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental - drug therapy; Humans; Nephritis, Interstitial; Nephrosis - drug therapy; Phytotherapy - methods; Plants, Medicinal; Prednisolone - therapeutic use; Proteinuria - drug therapy; Reishi; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilator Agents - therapeutic use; Endothelial cell cytotoxicity; Ganoderma lucidum; focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS); proteinuria immunocirculatory balance
• ISSN: 1386-0291; 1875-8622
• DOI: 10.3233/CHM-2004-ch725

A persistent proteinuria is commonly observed in nephrotic patient with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) under treatment with prednisolone ± cyclophosphamide or with vasodilators (ACEI + AII receptor antagonist, calcium channel blocker and antiplatelet agent). Fourteen such patients with persistent proteinuria were subject to be treated with Ganoderma lucidum. Initial study revealed an enhanced endothelial cell cytotoxicity induced by patient's serum, and an altered immunocirculatory balance with predominant proinflammatory cytokine TNF alpha activity in the presence of defective anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐10. Treatment with Ganoderma lucidum suppressed endothelial cell cytotoxicity, restored immunocirculatory balance and successfully suppressed proteinuria in all of these 14 patients.