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

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 immunocir- culatory 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 immunocircula- tory balance and successfully suppressed proteinuria in all of these 14 patients.