Psyched Wellness Ltd. announced the company KGK, a licensed CRO in Canada, has reported recent findings from the analysis of the intestinal epithelial immune receptor expression study performed in conjunction with the 90-day oral toxicity study with Amanita Muscaria Extract (AME- 1). The in vivo study via oral supplementation with AME-1 focused on the potential bioactive effects on the immune receptors Toll-like Receptor-2 (TLR-2) and Dectin-1, both of which are found on the surface of gut epithelial cells. The Toll-like receptors are an important family within the innate immune system and play a vital role in host-defense mechanisms against pathogens.

The main function of TLRs is the ability to recognize numerous pathogens, thus activating the host-defense mechanism through the induction of antimicrobial activity. Dectin-1 is a cell surface pathogen recognition receptor that recognizes soluble and /or particulate forms of -1,3 or -1,6-glucans and, like Toll-like receptors, plays an important role in the host-defense mechanism as well. The recent results of the in vivo study showed only a modest increase in TLR-2 and Dectin-1 receptors, but this was not a significant finding.

It could be interpreted that the challenge of continuous dosing of AME-1 resulted in maximal cell surface expression of TLR-2 and Dectin-1, thus seeing only a modest positive upregulation of cell surface membrane expression. However, the sustained upregulation of both TLR-2 and Dectin-1 receptors indicates innate immune mechanisms that were primed and maintained throughout the course of the 90-day oral study. Furthermore, there was no downregulation of either surface receptor type, nor was there any over priming or stimulating effect which would have negatively impacted the immune system through the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.