Ex Vivo Effects of Lentinan on Dexamethasone-Treated T Lymphocytes: A Study on Proliferation, Differentiation, and Cytokine Expression

The aim of this chapter is to investigate the effect of ex vivo Lentinan (LNT) on T lymphocytes treated with dexamethasone (DEX). Firstly, the maximum safe concentration range of LNT on mouse splenic lymphocytes was determined using the MTT assay, and an ex vivo immune suppression model was established. Flow cytometry was used to explore the effects of LNT on the proliferation and differentiation of lymphocytes treated with DEX. Changes in cytokine mRNA levels were detected using RT-PCR.