[CCoE Notice] Dissertation Announcement: Srinandhini Chandran, "Identifying the Immunostimulatory and Anti-Cancer Properties of Calocybe indica"

[Greenwell, Stephen J]

Please note modified location from previous notice. Thank you!


[Dissertation Defense Announcement at the Cullen College of Engineering]
Identifying the Immunostimulatory and Anti-Cancer Properties of Calocybe indica (Edible Milky White Mushroom) for Adjuvant Therapy Applications

Srinandhini Chandran
January 10, 2025; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (CST)
Location: SEC 101, UH-Main Campus
Microsoft Teams Link: Join the meeting now<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19*3ameeting_NTQyMzdjZTctOWFhZC00NGZkLWFkOTYtZTJkNzlmZjA5ODVj*40thread.v2/0?context=*7b*22Tid*22*3a*22170bbabd-a2f0-4c90-ad4b-0e8f0f0c4259*22*2c*22Oid*22*3a*22c2ae3fe4-0397-43ab-aab2-a1ab0a97c3e3*22*7d__;JSUlJSUlJSUlJSUlJSUl!!LkSTlj0I!EuXf2dmGOs8thQWj6FAVEx3OkyjRMCnvL3lGYg7O_58Y3nceYynh3YczB6CvCP6P4IL84wPfWAeqBQaXc7f3cV1K590$ >
Committee Chairs:
Chandra Mohan, MD, Ph.D. | Venkatesh Balan, Ph.D.
Committee Members:
Tianfu Wu, Ph.D. | Renita Horton, Ph.D. |
Anne Satterthwaite, Ph.D. | Fatima Merchant, Ph.D.
Abstract
Calocybe indica is a commercially grown tropical edible fungus producing nutritionally rich milky white mushrooms. While recent studies have highlighted its therapeutic properties, limited information exists on how its compounds modulate immunity and inhibit cancer progression. This study investigates the immunomodulatory and anti-cancer properties of C. indica revealing its potential as a multi-functional therapeutic agent. Polysaccharide extracts of C. indica (CIP) demonstrated significant in vitro immunomodulatory effects, activating T cells and B cells, increasing plasma cell differentiation and enhancing antibody and cytokine secretion. RNA-seq analysis identified the activation of critical pathways in immune cell revealing the underlying mechanisms of CIP immunomodulatory effects. Structural analysis via sugar composition profiling and size-exclusion chromatography revealed that CIP primarily consist of low-molecular weight α-1,3 glucans, along with α-1,6 glucans, high-molecular-weight α-1,4 glucans, medium-molecular weight β-glucans and α-mannans, all of which are recognized for their bioactivity. In vivo studies in mice demonstrated that CIP exhibited robust adjuvant capabilities by significantly enhancing anti-OVA-specific immune responses. This effect was likely mediated through multiple immune cell types and promotion of B cell differentiation into plasma cells. Metabolomic analysis of C. indica identified a diverse array of metabolites, several of which have putative anti-cancer properties. Ethanol extract of C. Indica (CIEE) inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB231) in vitro, while sparing C57BL/6J mouse primary spleen cells, indicating selective cytotoxicity. CIEE induced apoptosis in breast cancer cells, accompanied by morphological changes indicative of cell death. RNA-seq analysis further revealed that CIEE activated multiple biological pathways consistent with anti-cancer mechanism including apoptosis and inhibition of proliferation. In summary, C. indica exhibit therapeutic potential: polysaccharides that confer immunostimulatory and adjuvant properties, and metabolites that exert direct tumoricidal effects. Future research aimed at purifying and characterizing its key bioactive molecules could lead to the development of novel therapeutics, offering potential for clinical trials and cost-effective treatment options.

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