# Patent

## Title
Composition and method for treating autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder

## Abstract

The present invention provides the composition and the method for treating autoimmune diseases and a mucosal disorder via oral-tolerance induction and innate immunity promotion. The composition for treating the autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder includes the polysaccharide prepared from a plant, wherein the plant belongs to Genus Dendrobium.

## Background
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/121,721, which was filed on May 4, 2005 and is incorporated by reference herein as if fully set forth.


FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a composition and a method for treating autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder, and more particularly to a composition including polysaccharides derived from Dendrobium and a method including the administration of polysaccharides derived from Dendrobium for treating autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder via oral tolerance induction and innate immunity promotion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A basic property of the immune system is the immunologic tolerance that provides for self/non-self discrimination, so that the immune system can protect the host from external pathogens without reacting against itself. When the immune system reacts against itself, autoimmune disease results. (Annu. Rev. Med. 48:341-351, 1997)
Oral tolerance has been proven to be of therapeutic benefit in autoimmune diseases, including uveitis, collagen-induced arthritis, adjuvant arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple sclerosis, thyroiditis, myasthenia gravis, inflammatory bowel disease and diabetes. (Annals of the New York Academy of Scien. ces 778(1): 217-227, 1996)
An orally administered antigen encounters the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), which is a well-developed immune network. The GALT consists of villi, lamina propria, intraepithelial lymphocytes and Peyer's patch, wherein Peyer's patch consists of lymphoid nodules interspersed among the villi. The epithelium that lines the gut contains M cells for transporting antigens and microorganisms. Antigens and pathogens in the gut can only penetrate the barrier through M cells, specialized to deliver antigen directly to underlying immune cells. Then, the intraepithelial lymphocytes recognizing the antigens translocate to Peyer's patches to trigger immune responses. In Peyer's patches, B cells and macrophages present the antigens to lymphocytes, and then the antigen-specific lymphocytes circulate to the lamina propria in the mucosal system (such as mucosal surface of respiratory tract) of the body. However, M cells are scattered and few, less than 0.1% of epithelial cells. (Science 277:949952, 1997; Science 277:910-911, 1997)
The intestinal immune system includes innate immunity and adaptive immunity for protecting against diseases mediated via oral administration. The portion of tissue infected by pathogens secretes chemokines for inducing the non-specific innate immune responses of macrophages, monocytes, granulocytes and natural killer cells. Macrophages and granulocytes can directly take pathogens by phagocytosis. Natural killer cells are the immune cells in the body that first respond to viral infections or cells infected by other pathogens. Natural killer cells not only attack the target cells, but also secrete cytokines for regulating immune responses such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-5 (IL-5) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Macrophages and other antigen presenting cells, such as dendritic cells, present antigens to T cells via MHC class II molecules and co-stimulators on the cell surface, so as to further activate immune responses, i.e. cell-mediated immunity and humoral immunity respectively performed by T cells and B cells. Mucosal immunity is mainly regulated by cytokines secreted from CD4+ T cells. Interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 secreted from type 2 helper T (TH2) cells involve in stimulating B cells for antibody production. TGF-β secreted from type 3 helper T (TH3) cells induces B cells to produce IgA. (Trends Immunol. 22:244-247, 2004; J. Clin. Invest. 106:935-937, 2000)
Mucosal immune responses are not only induced in the gut, but also in the mucosal system of the whole body. Once there are antigen-specific lymphocytes activated in the inductive site-Peyer's patch in intestine, lymphocytes travel through lymph drain and blood to effector sites, including lamina propria and rectum, genital tract, lung and so on. Then, the antibodies are produced and can be detected at these effector sites. This homing phenomenon is called the common mucosal immune system. Due to the common mucosal immune response, the antibodies induced by oral administration are distributed in the whole body. If the antigen is delivered via oral administration, systematic tolerance or IgA, i.e. oral tolerance, is induced. Oral tolerance includes both systematic unresponsiveness and mucosal responsiveness, wherein the former prevents the whole body from autoimmune diseases, and the later induces active suppression of a specific antigen. Therefore, the mucosal immune system tends to inhibit inflammatory immune responses and further enhance the presentation of IgA in the non-inflammatory local mucosa. (Immunol. Today 18:335-343, 1997)
The surface of the gastrointestinal tract is lined by a simple columnar epithelium to form a barrier against the excessive absorption of bacteria, food antigens and large molecules, and moreover the transportation of small molecules is controlled by the tight junction formed in the barrier. The crypts embedded in the connective tissue include stem cells for regenerating the intestinal epithelial cells. In addition to the intestinal epithelia cells, the intestinal stem cells also can differentiate into Goblet cells and enteroendocrine cells for secreting mucin, and into Paneth cells for secreting antimicrobial peptides. In addition to the Paneth cells staying in the stem cells region, the differentiated cells migrate to the top of the villi. (J. Clin. Invest. 105:14931499, 2000; Science 294:2115-2116, 2001)
It is a reasonable suggestion that the intestinal epithelia cells play a critical role for influencing immune responses to various antigens in the intestinal lumen due to the special location of the epithelial cells. The intestinal epithelial cells can express antigen-presenting molecules as antigen-presenting cells (APCs) so as to regulate T-cell responses in the intestinal mucosa. (Immunol. Today 21:123-128, 2000) Antigen presenting molecules expressed by the intestinal epithelial cells include MHC class I, MHC class II and CD1d. (Gastroenterology 124:1420-1431, 2003) The MHC class I and MHC class II are expressed on the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells, wherein MHC class I is responsible for coupling with CD8+ cells, and MHC class II is responsible for coupling with CD4+ cells. CD1d activates NK T cells via glycolipid. The intestinal epithelial cells play a critical role in the mucosal immune system.
In addition to being the physical barrier, the intestinal epithelial cells secrete antimicrobial peptides against microbes in the gastrointestinal tract and provide signals to other cells. (Immunol. Today 21:123-128, 2000; J. Clin. Invest. 95:55-65, 1995) There are specific antimicrobial peptides, defensins. Defensins are 3-5 kD proteins, which include the α-defensin and β-defensin family, which has 8 peptides. These defensins have organ-specific expression patterns in the epithelial cells of oral mucosa, lung and gastrointestinal tract. (Eur. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 13:771-776, 2001; Nat. Rev. Immunol. 3:710-720, 2003) When the gastrointestinal tract is infected, the intestinal epithelial cells express defensins, the defensins function as chemokines to induce NK cells and dendritic cells to the infected areas, and to perform the so-called innate immunity. In addition to the induction of innate immunity, defensins induce the dendritic cells to express co-stimulator (B7.2) through the toll-like receptor 4, so as to induce the proliferation of T cells. Therefore, defensins involve the link between innate immunity and adaptive immunity.
Other antimicrobial proteins, angiogenins, were considered to involve the angiogenesis of cancer cells; however, in 2003, Hooper disclosed that angiogenins are produced by the Paneth cells in the gastrointestinal tract under normal physiological conditions, and stored in the cellular granules. The angiogenins are secreted into the gastrointestinal tract in response to the lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Comparing the Germ free mice and the mice colonized with intestinal bacteria, it is found that angiogenins are significantly increased due to the presence of the intestinal bacteria. Like defensins, the angiogenins are bactericidal and modulated by local environmental conditions encountered at infected sites. (Nat. Immunol. 4:269-273, 2003)
In addition to secreting antimicrobial peptides against pathogen infection, the intestinal epithelial cells produce many signals for regulating the immune responses in the gastrointestinal tract. In order to protect the host by destroying invading microbes, the intestinal epithelial cells should immediately respond to the invading microbes via the defense mechanism. The defense mechanism is known as the innate immunity system, which uses germline-encoded pattern-recognition receptors for the recognition of the macromolecules of the microbial pathogens, such as lipopolysaccharide present in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. In recent years, the manner in which receptors activate cells has been disclosed. In adult Drosophila, it is shown that Toll induces antifungal and antibacterial peptides upon infection. Medzhitov and Janeways et al. disclose that in mammals, the activation of Tolllike receptor (TLR) results in induction of cytokines and costimulatory molecules required for the activation of the adaptive immune response. (Cell 91:295-298, 1997) The intracellular signaling pathways activated by TLRs share much in common with IL-1R signaling due to their conserved TIR (Toll/IL-1R homology) domains. When the endotoxin is recognized by TLRs, nuclear translocation of NF-kB is triggered to regulate the transcriptions of other genes involved in immune responses. Subsequently, the proinflammatory cytokine genes are activated, antimicrobial peptides are secreted, and the chemokines, such as IL-8, MIP and MCP-1, are secreted. The macrophages and NK cells are induced by these chemokines so as to translocate to the infected site and to destroy the infected cells. (Cell 91:295-298, 1997; Curr. Opin. Immunol. 14:103-110, 2002) Hence, toll-like receptors not only induce the innate immunity system, but also indirectly induce the adaptive immunity system due to the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines triggered by NF-kB activation.
In human cells, there are at least 10 different TLRs, wherein TLR-2, TLR-4 and TLR-9 are more characterized members of the TLR family. TLRs have been shown to mediate the recognition of many types of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses. TLR-4 is the receptor for Gram-negative bacterial LPS, TLR-2 is the receptor for Gram-positive bacterial peptidoglycan, and TLR-9 is the receptor for the unmethylated and phosphorylated cytosine-guanine oligonucleotide, CpG. (Curr. Opin. Immunol. 14:103-110, 2002) TLR3 can recognize double strand RNA virus, (Nature 433:887-892, 2005) and TLR7 can recognize single strand RNA virus. (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 101(15):55985603, 2004) When TLR signal pathway is activated, the innate immunity or antiviral response can be induced for host protection.
In normal intestinal epithelial cells, TLR-3 and TLR-5 are constitutively expressed, while TLR2 and TLR4 are barely detectable. (Infection and Immunity 68:7010-7017, 2000) IL-8 is produced by the epithelial cells in response to the stimulation of the bacterial DNA. (FASEB J. 17:1319-1321, 2003) In intestinal epithelial cells, the bacterial CpG oligonucleotides are the ligands for the TLR-9. Furthermore, the intestinal epithelial cells do not induce inflammation in response to all foreign substances, i.e. the intestinal epithelial cells tolerate commensal microflora, while the intestinal epithelial cells provide danger signals to APCs under potential pathogenic conditions or autoimmune diseases, so as to induce the inflammation formed by T cells mediated by APCs. (Cell 118:229-241, 2004)
Under normal steady-state conditions, recognition of commensal bacteria by TLRs plays a crucial role in protection against gut injury. (Cell 118: 229-241, 2004) But in human inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a Th1-mediated pathological effect is thought to be due to aberrant mucosal immune response to the microflora. (Gastroenterol. Clin. North Am. 31: 41-62, 2002) These findings reveal that TLRs control mucosal homeostasis between host—commensal.
It is well-known that oral administration of a Chinese herbal extract regulates the development of the immunity. It is very possible the Chinese herbal extract regulates the development of the immunity via the intestinal mucosal immunity. Dendrobium species is considered to be the most precious Chinese herb. A Dendrobium species belongs to an orchid family, and its stem is the mainmedicinal part of the plant. It tastes a little sweet and brackish. Some Chinese medical codices disclose that the Dendrobium species as the curative for some illnesses such as mucosal disorders, stomach disorders and ophthalmic disorders. According to our previous research experience, it appears that Dendrobii Herba is the most curative medicinal species.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for preparing the polysaccharide derived from Dendrobium and further provides the pharmaceutical use of the polysaccharide derived from Dendrobium. 
It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a method for preparing a polysaccharide from a plant. The method includes the steps of a) extracting the plant with a first alcohol to obtain a first extract, b) extracting the remaining material after step a) with a solvent to obtain a second extract, and c) precipitating the second extract with a second alcohol to obtain the polysaccharide.
Preferably, the plant belongs to the Genus Dendrobium. 
Preferably, the first alcohol is a methanol.
Preferably the solvent is water.
Preferably, the second alcohol is an ethanol.
In accordance with the present invention, after extracting the remaining material after step a) with the solvent in the step b), the method further includes steps of centrifuging and filtering so as to obtain the second extract.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a composition for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder. The composition includes a polysaccharide prepared from a plant, wherein the plant belongs to Dendrobium, and an antigen associated with induction of an autoimmune disease.
Preferably, the polysaccharide is prepared by the method provided in the present invention.
In accordance with the present invention, the autoimmune disease can be uveitis,
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder in a mammal. The method includes a step of administrating an antigen and a polysaccharide to the mammal, wherein the antigen is associated with induction of an autoimmune disease, and the polysaccharide is prepared from a plant belonging to the Genus Dendrobium. 
In accordance with present invention, the administration of the polysaccharide can be performed in a manner of an oral administration.
In accordance with the present invention, the autoimmune disease can be uveitis.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a composition for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder. The composition includes a polysaccharide prepared from a plant, wherein the plant belongs to the Genus Dendrobium. 
In accordance with the present invention, the autoimmune disease can be uveitis.
It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a method for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder in a mammal. The method includes a step of administrating a polysaccharide to the mammal, wherein the polysaccharide is prepared from a plant belonging to the Genus Dendrobium. 
In accordance with the present invention, the administration of the polysaccharide is performed in a manner of an oral administration.
In accordance with the present invention, the autoimmune disease can be uveitis.
The above aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The patent or application file contains a least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
FIG. 1 is the PCR analysis showing the mRNA expression of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides in the intestinal epithelial cell-6 (IEC-6) cells treated with the DeCaPS (polysaccharide from Dendrobii Herba);
FIG. 2 is the PCR analysis showing the mRNA expressions of toll-like receptors in the IEC-6 cells treated with the DeCaPS;
FIG. 3 is a chart showing the effects on the mitogenic responses of ConA-stimulated splenocytes from the C3H mice orally treated with the DeCaPS;
FIG. 4 is a chart showing the effects on the mitogenic responses of GM-CSF stimulated bone marrow cells from the C3H mice orally treated with the DeCaPS;
FIG. 5 is the PCR analysis showing cytokine-specific mRNA expression_in Peyer's patch and splenocytes obtained from the C3H mice orally treated with the DeCaPS;
FIG. 6 is a chart showing the titers of the ovalbumin specific IgA in the intestinal lavage solution from the C57BL/6j mice (a strain name) orally immunized by the ovalbumin with or without administration of DeCaPS;
FIG. 7 is a chart showing the titers of the ovalbumin specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) in serum from the C57BL/6j mice orally immunized by the ovalbumin with or without administration of DeCaPS;
FIG. 8 is a chart showing the titers of the ovalbumin specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum from the C57BL/6j mice orally immunized by the ovalbumin with or without administration of DeCaPS;
FIG. 9 is the PCR analysis showing the cytokine expressions of lymphocytes in Peyer's patch from the C57BL/6j mice;
FIG. 10 is a chart showing the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses of the C57BL/6j mice;
FIG. 11A is a chart showing the electro-retinograms to a range of flash intensities for the mice in the normal group;
FIG. 11B is a diagram showing the histopathology of the eyes of the mice in the normal group;
FIG. 12A is a chart showing the electro-retinograms for the mice in the control group;
FIG. 12B is a diagram showing the histopathology of the eyes of the mice in the control group;
FIG. 13A is a chart showing the electro-retinograms or the mice in the DC-10 group;
FIG. 13B is a diagram showing the histopathology of the eyes of the mice in the DC-10 group;
FIG. 14A is a chart showing the electro-retinograms for the mice in the DC-40 group;
FIG. 14B is a diagram showing the histopathology of the eyes of the mice in the DC-40 group;
FIG. 15A is a chart showing the electro-retinograms analysis for the mice in the DC-160 group;
FIG. 15B is a diagram showing the histopathology of the eyes of the mice in the DC-160 group;
FIG. 16A is a chart showing the amplitudes of the a-waves in FIGS. 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A and 15A; and
FIG. 16B is a chart showing the amplitudes of the b-waves in FIGS. 11 A, 12A, 13A, 14A and 15A.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The invention is described more specifically with reference to the following embodiments. It is to be noted that the following descriptions of preferred embodiments of this invention are presented herein for the purpose of illustration and description only; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to be limited to the precise form disclosed.
The present invention provides a method for preparing a polysaccharide from a plant, including the steps of a) extracting the plant with a first alcohol to obtain a first extract, b) extracting the remaining material after step a) with a solvent to obtain a second extract, and c) precipitating the second extract with a second alcohol to obtain the polysaccharide.
EXAMPLE I
Preparation of Polysaccharides from Dendrobium 
10 kg of fresh Dendrobii Herba was dried to obtain 2.92 kg of the dry material, and then the dry material was immersed and extracted with 73.3 L of methanol to form 136.79 gram of crude extract. The crude extract was treated with a de-methanol process, and then immersed in water overnight. The reaction solution was extracted with warm water at the temperature ranged from 55° C. to 60° C. for 30 minutes, and then centrifuged by centrifuge (ER-RC13 C124, HITACH) at 5,000 rpm and 10° C. After centrifugation, the supernatant was filtered through 6 μm of filter paper. The filtrate was precipitated with ethanol, and 20.684 g of polysaccharides (hereafter named as DeCaPS) were obtained.
EXAMPLE II
Immune Responses of IEC-6 Cells Treated by the DeCaPS
a. Culture of IEC-6 Cells
IEC cells, which originated from the small intestine of the normal rats were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 5% fetal bovine serum, 4.5 g/L glucose, 5 μg/ml bovine insulin and 2 mM L-glutamine in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 37° C.
b. The IEC-6 Cells were Treated with the DeCaPS
When the IEC-6 cells were confluent in the 6-well plate, the IEC cells were treated with DeCaPS at the concentrations of 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml, respectively, for 6 hours.
c. The Isolation of Total RNA from the IEC Cells Treated with the DeCaPS
After the treatment with the DeCaPS, the IEC cells were harvested and suspended in 1 ml of UltraspecTM RNA isolation Kit (a brand name, Biotex laboratories Inc. (USA)), and the total RNA was obtained by following the standard protocol of the kit. The total amount of obtained RNA was quantitatively determined.
d. Reverse-transcription and PCR Analysis of Cytokines and Toll-like Receptors
The reaction had the reaction volume of 26.5 μl and included 0.1 μg of oligo dT, 5 μg of the obtained total RNA and diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEPC)-treated sterilized water. The reaction was performed at 70° C. for 10 minutes. Then, 4 μl of 10 mM dNTP, 0.5 μl of rinsing, 1 μl of AMV (Avian Myeloblastosis virus) reverse transcriptase (10 unit) and 8 μl of 5× reverse transcriptase (RT) buffer was added so as to have the total volume of 40 μl. The mixture was incubated at 42° C. for 60 minutes, then at 90° C. for 5 minutes, and thereby the cDNA products were obtained. Subsequently, 0.5 μl of 10 mM deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP), 0.5 μl of Prozyme DNA polymerase (2 unit), 2.5 μl of 10× Prozyme buffer, the primers (0.8 μl of 5 μM sense DNA and 0.8 μl of 5 μM antisense DNA) and sterilized water were added into 2.5 μl of the cDNA products to form a total volume of 25 μl of the mixture, and the mixture was incubated in a DNA thermal cycler (Perkin-Elmer-Cetus), and thereby the PCR was performed for 35 cycles. Sense and antisense primers, including sense and antisense sequences [SEQ ID NOS: 1-32] for the target genes and the corresponding annealing temperature are listed in the following table I.









TABLE I






Target gene
Annealing temperature


SEQ ID NO.
(PCR product size)
(° C.)







1, 2
β-actin (510 bps)
57


3, 4
IL-1β (563 bps)
61


5, 6
IL-2 (502 bps)
61


7, 8
IL-4 (399 bps)
61


 9, 10
11-6 (638 bps)
61


11, 12
IL-10 (455 bps)
61


13, 14
TNF-α (308 bps)
57


15, 16
IFN-γ (460 bps)
61


17, 18
TGF-β (525 bps)
61


19, 20
Rat α-defensin (900 bps)
59


21, 22
Rat angiogenin (900 bps)
59 (hot start)


23, 24
TLR2 (495 bps)
55


25, 26
TLR4 (508 bps)
57


27, 28
TLR5 (737 bps)
59


29, 30
TLR7 (729 bps)
59


31, 32
TLR9 (725 bps)
60









FIG. 1 shows the mRNA expression of cytokines and antimicrobial peptides in the IEC-6 cells treated with the DeCaPS. After being treated with 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml of the DeCaPS for 6 hours, the mRNA expression of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) [SEQ ID NO: 33] in the IEC-6 cells was suppressed by about 29%, 20% and 30%; however, the mRNA expression of IL-10 [SEQ ID NO: 34] in the IEC-cells was enhanced up to 9.89-fold, 6.55-fold, and 1.77-fold, respectively. It is shown that the intestinal epithelial cells can be induced by the DeCaPS to provide tolerance signals to other cells in the immune system, so as to trigger the T helper 2/3 (TH2/3) pathways. In addition, after being treated with 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml of DeCaPS for 6 hours, the mRNA expression of α-defensin [SEQ ID NO: 35] was suppressed by about 42%, 33% and 51%; however, the mRNA expression of angiogenin [SEQ ID NO: 36] was enhanced up to 1.96-fold, 1.42-fold, and 1.70-fold, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 2, IEC-6 cell Toll like receptor 2 (TLR2) [SEQ ID NO: 37], Toll like receptor 4 (TNR4) [SEQ ID NO: 38], Toll like receptor 7 (TLR7) [SEQ ID NO: 39] and Toll like receptor 9 (TLR9) [SEQ ID NO: 40] were expressed without the DeCaPS treatment. After being treated with 1 μg/ml, 10 μg/ml and 100 μg/ml of the DeCaPS for 6 hours, the mRNA expression of TLR4 [SEQ ID NO: 38] in the IEC-6 cells was suppressed by about 6%, 16% and 13%, the mRNA expression of TLR5 [SEQ ID NO: 41] in the IEC-6 cells was suppressed by about 13%, 37% and 35%, and the mRNA expression of TLR7 [SEQ ID NO: 39] in the IEC-6 cells was suppressed by about 11%, 7% and 48%, respectively; however, the mRNA expression of TLR9 [SEQ ID NO: 40] was enhanced up to 2.21 fold, 1.09-fold and 3.56-fold, respectively. It is shown that the polysaccharides derived from Dendrobium not only suppress the expression of TNF-α [SEQ ID NO: 33], but also suppress the expression of TLR4 [SEQ ID NO: 38], TLR5 [SEQ ID NO: 41], and TLR7 [SEQ ID NO: 39].
EXAMPLE III
Effects on the Immune System by Oral Administration of DeCaPS in the Animal Model
The C3H mice (13 weeks old) were fed with the DeCaPS, prepared from the Example I, via the drinking water at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, and then were sacrificed to obtain the spleens and the bone marrows thereof.
a. Methy Thiazolyl Tetrazolium (MTT) Assays for Concanavalin A-stimulated Splenocytes from the C3H Mice
The splenocytes (4×105 cells/well) obtained from the C3H mice (a strain name) treated with the DeCaPS were cultured in Roswell Park Memorial Institute-1640 (RPMI-1640) medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and 1 and 5 μg/ml concanavalin A (ConA) for 72 hours, and then treated with 1 mg/ml MTT for 3 hours. Then, lysis buffer containing 50% DMF and 20% sodium dodecyl sulphatehh (SDS) was added to the cell cultures, and the reactions were performed for 16 hours. The absorption of light at 570 nm for the reactions was analyzed to denote the growth index, as shown in FIG. 3.
As shown in FIG. 3, after the C3H mice were orally treated with DeCaPS at dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the response to the 1 μg/ml ConA stimulation of the splenocytes were suppressed by about 28%, 49% and 30%.
b. MTT Assays for Granulocyte-macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor (GM-CSF)-stimulated Bone Marrow Cells Obtained from the C3H Mice
Bone marrow cells were obtained from the legs of the C3H mice treated with DeCaPS. The bone marrow cells were cultured in Alpha Modification of Eagle's Medium (α-MEM) containing 2% FCS and 4 ng/ml of GM-CSF for 72 hours, and the positive control group of bone marrow cells was cultured in α-MEM containing 2% FCS and 20 ng/ml of GM-CSF for 72 hours. Then, the medium was replaced by RPMI-1640 containing 1 mg/ml MTT and 2% FCS for 3 hours and the cells were further treated with MTT lysis buffer (20% SDS and 50% DMF at pH4.5) overnight. The absorption of light at 570 nm for the reactions was analyzed to denote the growth index, as shown in FIG. 4.
Please refer to FIG. 4, which shows the effects on the mitogenic responses of GM-CSF-stimulated bone marrow cells obtained from the C3H mice orally treated with the DeCaPS. As shown in FIG. 4, after the C3H mice were respectively and orally treated with DeCaPS at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mitogenic response of the GM-CSF-stimulated bone marrow cells was enhanced up to 1.71-fold, 1.62-fold, and 1.76-fold.
c. mRNA Expression of Cytokines in Peyer's Patch and Splenocytes Obtained from the C3H Mice
The Peyer's patch and splenocytes were obtained from the C3H mice treated with the DeCaPS. PCR analysis of the mRNA expression of the specific cytokines in Peyer's patch and the splenocytes was performed by the method described in Example II, and the PCR results were shown in FIG. 5, wherein the lanes 1-4 denote the C3H mice orally treated with the DeCaPS at the dosages of 0 mg/kg/day, 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day, respectively.
As shown in FIG. 5, after the C3H mice were orally treated with the DeCaPS for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42], IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43], IL-1β [SEQ ID NO: 44], IFN-γ [SEQ ID NO: 45] and TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] in Peyer's patch was increased. After the C3H mice were orally treated with the DeCaPS at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day and 50 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] was enhanced up to 2.64-fold and 2.46-fold, respectively. After the C3H mice were orally treated with DeCaPS at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43] was respectively enhanced up to 2.61-fold, 3.99-fold, and 5.35-fold, the mRNA expression of IL-1 β[SEQ ID NO: 44] was respectively enhanced up to 1.83 fold, 2.00-fold, and 1.11-fold, the mRNA expression of IFN-γ [SEQ ID NO: 45] was respectively enhanced up to 3.47-fold, 5.47-fold and 5.57-fold, and the mRNA expression of TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] was respectively enhanced up to 2.38-fold, 2.54-fold, and 1.89-fold. The increments of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] and IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43] suggests that Th2 pathway is triggered, and T helper cells are activated by the increments of IL-1β [SEQ ID NO: 44] to secrete cytokines, such as TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46]. This may trigger the IgA class switched B cells, which are induced by TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] to secrete IgA so as to suppress certain immune responses.
As also shown in FIG. 5, after the C3H mice were orally treated with the DeCaPS for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-1 β [SEQ ID NO: 44], IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] and TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] in the splenocytes was suppressed. After the C3H mice were orally treated with DeCaPS at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-1 β [SEQ ID NO: 44] was suppressed by about 32%, 43% and 79%, and the mRNA expression of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] was suppressed by about-7%, 67% and 14%. After the C3H mice were orally treated with DeCaPS at the dosages of 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mRNA expression of TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] was suppressed by about 27% and 44%, and the mRNA expression of IFN-γ [SEQ ID NO: 45] was suppressed by about 33% and 97%, respectively. However, after the C3H mice were orally treated with the DeCaPS at the dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 50 mg/kg/day and 250 mg/kg/day for 5 days, the mRNA expression of IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43] was enhanced up to 1.84-fold, 1.4-fold and 1.23-fold. It is to be noted that there are not significant cellular responses to DeCaPS treatment, and this phenomenon is consistent with the responses to the ConA stimulations.
EXAMPLE IV
Enhancement of Oral Tolerance in an Animal Model by DeCaPS
Since it is well-known that animals can be immunized by ovalbumin (OVA) to establish the animal model for the autoimmune disease (The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 288:849-857, 1999), the present invention establishes an animal model which includes mice with OVA-induced autoimmune disease, and the mice are treated with DeCaPS to enhance oral tolerance. C57/BL6j mice (65 weeks old) were orally treated with 0.5 mg/ml ovalbumin (OVA) in drinking water at day 4 and day 5, and DeCaPS was administrated to the C57/BL6j mice as an adjuvant at dosages of 10 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day and 160 mg/kg/day at days 3-7. 50 μg of OVA with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) was administrated to the mice as an antigen via i.p. injection at day 8 and with OVA on day 24. OVA-specific IgG and IgM in the blood was collected at day 22 and day 30. The mice were sacrificed at day 32 to collect an intestinal lavage solution of the intestinal mucosa and the lung mucosa to detect IgA in response to OVA. The detailed experimental procedures are illustrated in the following table II.







TABLE II







Oral administration of OVA with/without DeCaPS in animal model


















OVA +




Amount
Blood

Oral
CFA
OVA


Group
of mice
collection
Oral OVA
DeCaPS
Injection
injection





Normal
5
Days 0, 22, 30
—
—
Day 8
Day 24


Control
6
Days 0, 22, 30
Days 4-5
—
Day 8
Day 24


Positive
6
Days 0, 22, 30
Days 1-5
—
Day 8
Day 24


Control


DC-1
5
Days 0, 22, 30
Days 4-5
Days 3-7
Day 8
Day 24


(10 mg/kg/day)


DC-2
5
Days 0, 22, 30
Days 4-5
Days 3-7
Day 8
Day 24


(40 mg/kg/day)


DC-3
5
Days 0, 22, 30
Days 4-5
Days 3-7
Day 8
Day 24


(160 mg/kg/day)









The intestinal lavage solution of the intestinal mucosa was obtained from the mice at the day 32, and the titer of the ovalbumin-specific IgA in the intestinal lavage solution was determined as shown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 6, IgA secreted from the intestinal mucosa was enhanced up to 1.9-fold (p<0.01) in the C57BL6j mice treated by the OVA with DeCaPS at the dose of 40 mg/kg/day, and the IgA secreted from the intestinal mucosa was enhanced up to 4.35-fold (p<0.001) in the C57/BL6j mice treated by the OVA with DeCaPS at the dose of 160 mg/kg/day.
The titer of IgM antibodies in the blood at the day 22 and day 30 were determined, as shown in FIG. 7. With comparison to the IgM antibody level expressed in the control group at day 22, the IgM antibody level expressed in the normal group was decreased by about 49% (p<0.05), the IgM antibody level-expressed in the positive control group was suppressed by about 87% (p<0.05), the IgM antibody level-expressed in the DC-1 group was suppressed by about 46% (p<0.02), the IgM antibody level-expressed in the DC-2 group was suppressed by about 88% (p<0.001), and the IgM antibody level in the DC-3 group was suppressed by about 86% (p<0.001). Furthermore, with comparison to the IgM antibody level-expressed in the control group at day 30, the IgM antibody level-expressed in the normal group was decreased by about 47% (p<0.01), the IgM antibody level-expressed in the positive control group was suppressed by about 72% (p<0.001), the IgM antibody level expressed in the DC-1 group was suppressed by about 38% (p<0.01), the IgM antibody level expressed in the DC-2 group was suppressed by about 58% (p<0.01), and the IgM antibody level expressed in the DC-3 group was suppressed by about 71% (p<0.001).
The titer of IgG antibodies in the blood at day 22 and day 30 were determined, as shown in FIG. 8. With comparison to the IgG antibody level expressed in the control group at the day 22, the IgG antibody level-expressed in the positive control group was suppressed by about 94% (p<0.01), the IgG antibody level expressed in the DC-1 group was suppressed by about 67% (p<0.01), the IgG antibody level expressed in the DC-2 group was suppressed by about 76% (p<0.01), and the IgG antibody level expressed in the DC-3 group was suppressed by about 88% (p<0.001). Furthermore, with comparison to the IgG-antibody level expressed in the control group at day 30, the IgG antibody level expressed in the positive control group was suppressed by about 75% (p<0.001), the IgG antibody level-expressed in the DC-2 group was suppressed by about 62% (p<0.001), and the IgG antibody level expressed in the DC-3 group was suppressed by about 63% (p<0.001).
In addition, Peyer's patch was obtained from the mice at day 32 and the mRNA of the cytokines expressed by the lymphocytes in Peyer's patch was extracted and analyzed. The results are shown in FIG. 9, wherein lane A denotes the normal group, lane B denotes the control group, lane C denotes the positive control group, lane D denotes the DC-1 group, lane E denotes the DC-2 group, and lane F denotes the DC-3 group. PCR amplification was programmed to denature at 94° C. for 45 seconds, anneal at 61° C. for 45 seconds and extension for 72° C. for 1 minute. There were 37 cycles in the PCR program. The PCR products were separated by electrophoresis in a 2% agarose gel and the gel was stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light.
With comparison to the control group, the TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] level expressed in the DC-3 group was suppressed about 30%, the IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] level expressed in the DC-3 group was enhanced up to 2.2-fold, and the IL-10 [SEQ ID NO: 34] level expressed in the DC-3 group was enhanced up to 1.3-fold. With comparison to the control group, the IL-2 [SEQ ID NO: 47] level expressed in the DC-2 group was enhanced up to 1.4-fold, and the IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] level expressed in the DC-2 group was enhanced up to 1.6-fold. Moreover, with comparison to the control group, the IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] level expressed in the DC-1 group was enhanced up to 1.4-fold, and the IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43] level expressed in the DC-1 group was enhanced up to 1.3-fold.
The mRNA expression of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] and IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43] was enhanced in the lymphocytes in Peyer's patch. It is to be emphasized that since Payer's patch is the site for the determination of immune responses to antigens, when the antigen-primed T or B cells back to intestine through homing mechanism, the Th2 pathway is activated to produce antibodies in response to the increments of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42] and IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43], the IgG and IgM expressions in the serum are suppressed so as to suppress the allergenic responses, and oral tolerance is achieved.
In view of aforesaid descriptions, the mitogenic response of T cells in the spleen is suppressed by polysaccharides of Dendrobium; however, granulocytes and macrophages in bone marrow are activated by polysaccharides of Dendrobium. In other words, T cells activated in autoimmune diseases can be suppressed by oral administration of polysaccharides of Dendrobium; however, the granulocyte lineage cells are activated by oral administration of polysaccharides of Dendrobium for preventing pathogen invasions by innate immunity promotion.
Regarding intestinal immunity, the mRNA expression of IL-4 [SEQ ID NO: 42], IL-6 [SEQ ID NO: 43], IL-1β[SEQ ID NO: 44], IFN-γ[SEQ ID NO: 45] and TGF-β [SEQ ID NO: 46] are enhanced to trigger the Th2/Th3 pathways in the intestine, so as to form oral tolerance. According to the expression of TNF-α [SEQ ID NO: 33], TLR2 [SEQ ID NO: 37], TLR4 [SEQ ID NO: 38], TLR5 [SEQ ID NO: 41] and TLR7 [SEQ ID NO: 39] in IEC-6 cells treated with the polysaccharides of Dendrobium, it is shown that the signals mediated by the toll-like receptors can be regulated to be immunosupressed or anti-inflammatory response by the polysaccharides of Dendrobium, so as to enhance the oral tolerance-associated signals, i.e. the Th2/3 pathways and maintain mucosal homeostasis during pathogenic status such as autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder. Interestingly, the expression of angiogenin, which has antimicrobial activities, can be induced by administration of the polysaccharides of Dendrobium as described in Example II. Accordingly, oral administration of polysaccharides of Dendrobium not only enhances oral tolerance, but also triggers innate immunity mechanisms for preventing pathogen invasions. According to these findings, polysaccharides of Dendrobium may have beneficial uses for treatment of autoimmune diseases and mucosal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by releasing prolonged inflammation and further injury.
It has been disclosed that angiogenins have activities against not only enteric microbes such as Enterococcus faecalis but also microbes that cause systematic infections in humans such as Candida albicans and Streptococcus pneumoniae. (Nat. Immunol. 4:269-273, 2003) In clinical studies, leucorrhea in women is a polymicrobial, superficial vaginal infection. The infection is frequently caused by bacterias such as G. vaginalis, Candida spp, C. albicans, T. vaginalis, Streptococcus group D, Streptococcus b hemolytic, E. coli, and Klebsiella spp etc. (Salud publica Mex vol. 45 suppl. 5, pS694-S697, 2003). It is obvious that leucorrhea in women caused by microbes such as Candida albicans could be relieved by the activities of angiogenins, which are induced by the oral administration of polysaccharides of Dendrobium. 
EXAMPLE V
Treatment of Autoimmune Disease by DeCaPS
Experimental autoimmune uveitis is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease that serves as a model for several ocular autoimmune diseases, which can induced by immunization with interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP), a 140-kD glycolipoprotein. Also, autoimmune uveitis can be induced by IRBP peptide 1-20 (SEQ ID NO. 48:GPTHLFQPSLVLDMAKVLLD), the amino acids 1-20 of IRBP. In addition, the IRBP peptide 1-20 is conserved in mice and humans. (Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science 41(1):127-131, 2000) Hence, the IRBP peptide was administrated to the C57BL/6j mice to establish the autoimmune disease model in the present invention.
a. Synthesis of IRBP Peptide
The IRBP peptide (SEQ ID NO. 48: GPTHLFQPSLVLDMAKVLLD) was synthesized on the peptide synthesizer (PS3) using Fmoc Chemistry, purified by the Agilent HPLC and identified by the Brukeer esquire 2000 MS.
b. Administrations of IRBP and DeCaPS
Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) mice, C57BL/6j mice, were randomly grouped into a normal group, a control group, a DC-10 group, a DC-40 group and a DC-160 group, wherein there were 6 mice in each group. The human IRBP peptide [SEQ ID NO: 48] (150 μg/mouse) and CFA (1:1, vol/vol) in a 0.2 ml emulsion was administrated to each SPF mouse in the groups, except the normal group, via i.p. injection. The mice in the DC-10 group, DC-40 group, and the DC-160 group were fed with DeCaPS at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day, 40 mg/kg/day and 160 mg/kg/day, resepectively, for 28 days. Retinal functions of the mice were determined by an electro-retinogram (ERG) analysis, and the mice were sacrificed at day 28 to obtain the eyes thereof for the bioassays and histopathology. The experimental procedures are illustrated in the following table III.







TABLE III







Treatment of autoimmune disease with/without DeCaPS in animal model
















immunized
DeCaPS

ERG &



Amount
ERG
with IRBP
(days 1-28)
DTK assay
histopathology


Group
of mice
determination
at day 1
mg/kg/day
(days 21 and 23)
at day 28





Normal
6
+
−
—
+
+


Control
6
+
+
—
+
+


DC-10
6
+
+
10
+
+


DC-40
6
+
+
40
+
+


DC-160
6
+
+
160
+
+









c. Delayed-type Hypersensitivity (DTH) Test
On day 21 after immunization with the IRBP peptide, the mice were injected subcutaneously with 20 μg of the IRBP peptide emulsion in Incomplete Freund's Adjuvant, IFA, (20 μl) into the left footpad. The right footpad was injected with IFA only. After 48 hours, the thicknesses of the footpads were measured with a caliper.
Please refer to FIG. 10, which shows the DTH responses of the mice. The DTH responses were shown by footpad increments in water volume relative to the footpad increment of the mice injected with the phosphate buffer saline (PBS). It is to be noted that the footpad increment of the mice co-treated with the DeCaPS at the dosage of 160 mg/kg/day is significantly decreased.
d. Electro-retinogram (ERG) Analysis
The mice were dark-adapted for 2 hours, and then anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Then, the corneas of the mice were anesthetized, and the pupils were dilated. The retinas were stimulated with a flash of light, and the responses of the retina to the flash of light were recorded as electroretinograms. The electroretinograms show the action of photoreceptors and functions of the proximal retina such as bioplar and Miller cells. The electroretinograms are used for reflecting the state of the entire retina. In electroretinograms, there is typically a negative-going a-wave, followed by a positive-going b-wave. The leading edge of the a-wave provides a direct measure of the activities of the cone and rod cells in the photoreceptor layer, while the b-wave provides a reflection of the action of bipolar cells in the inner nuclear layer.
For the two mice randomly selected from the normal group at day 28, the results of the electroretinogram analysis are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 11A, wherein the flash onset was at time 100 millisecond and the flash duration was approximately 600 milliseconds. For the two mice randomly selected from the normal group at day 28, the histopathology of the eyes are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 11B (400× magnification), wherein the photoreceptor layer is denoted as “P”, the outer nuclear layer is denoted as “ONL”, and the inner nuclear layer is denoted as “INL”.
For two mice randomly selected from the control group at day 28 the results of the electroretinogram analysis are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 12A, wherein the flash onset was at time 100 millisecond and the flash duration was approximately 600 milliseconds. For the two mice randomly selected from the control group at day 28, the histopathology of the eyes are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 12B (400× magnification). It is shown that due to immunization with the IRBP peptide, the photoreceptor layer (P), the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the mice in the control group are severely damaged.
For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-10 group at the day 28, the results of the electroretinogram analysis are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 13A, wherein the flash onset was at time 100 millisecond and the flash duration was approximately 600 milliseconds. For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-10 group at day 28, the histopathology of the eyes were are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 13B (400× magnification). It is shown that after immunization with the IRBP peptide and oral administration of the DeCaPS (10 mg/kg/day) for 28 days, the photoreceptor layer (P), the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the mice in the DC-10 group are severely damaged.
For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-40 group at day 28, the results of the electroretinogram analysis are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 14A, wherein the flash onset was at time 100 millisecond and the flash duration was approximately 600 milliseconds. For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-40 group at day 28, the histopathology of the eyes are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 14B (400× magnification). It is shown that after immunization with the IRBP peptide and oral administration of DeCaPS (40 mg/kg/day) for 28 days, the photoreceptor layer (P), the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the mice in the DC-40 group are slightly damaged.
For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-160 group at day 28, the results of the electroretinogram analysis are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 15A, wherein the flash onset was at time 100 millisecond and the flash duration was approximately 600 milliseconds. For the two mice randomly selected from the DC-160 group at day 28, the histopathology of the eyes are respectively shown in the upper part and the lower part of FIG. 15B (400× magnification). It is shown that after immunization with the IRBP peptide and oral administration of DeCaPS (160 mg/kg/day) for 28 days, the photoreceptor layer (P), the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and the inner nuclear layer (INL) of the mice in the DC-160 group are not damaged.
Accordingly, after the immunization with the IRBP peptide, it was observed that there were more cell deaths in the inner nuclear layer, but the dead cells did not sink on the outer nuclear layer. It was also observed that the cells in the inner nuclear layer were damaged by the IRBP peptide treatment, but the cell peeling off from the inner nuclear layer was significantly prevented by co-treatment with the DeCaPS at the dosage of 160 mg/kg/day.
In addition, the a-waves respectively shown in FIGS. 11A, 12A, 13 A, 14A and 15A were compared in FIG. 16A (p<0.02 for the statistics), and the b-waves respectively shown in FIGS. 11A, 12A, 13A, 14A and 15A were compared in FIG. 16B (p<0.02 for the statistics). It is to be emphasized that the a-wave of the mice in the control group immunized with IRBP peptide were much lower than that of the mice in the normal group; however, with comparison to the control group, the cells peeling off from the inner nuclear layer of the mice co-treated with the DeCaPS at the dosage of 40 mg/kg/day is significantly prevented. Furthermore, the amplitudes of the a-wave and the b-wave of the mice co-treated with the DeCaPS at the dosage of 160 mg/kg/day are nearly equal to those of the mice of the normal group. It is to be further emphasized that the damage from immunization with IRBP peptide can be rescued by co-treatment with the polysaccharides, at the dosage of 160/mg/kg/day, prepared from Dendrobium. In other words, oral administration of polysaccharides prepared from Dendrobium can prevent retinal inflammation induced by IRBP.
According to the foregoing experiments, the present invention provides a composition for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder, wherein the composition includes polysaccharides prepared from Dendrobium and an antigen associated with induction of the autoimmune disease due to that the polysaccharides prepared from Dendrobium can enhance the oral tolerance induction and innate immunity promotion. Furthermore, the present invention provides a composition just including the polysaccharides prepared from Dendrobium for treating an autoimmune disease and mucosal disorder due to that the polysaccharides prepared from Dendrobium can induce the oral tolerance and promote innate immunity alone.
While the invention has been described in terms of what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention need not be limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures.

## Claims

1. A method for treating an autoimmune uveitis in a mammal in need thereof comprising:
administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of polysaccharides extracted from Dendrobii Herba, wherein the polysaccharides are obtained by the process comprising the following steps:
(a) extracting the Dendrobii Herba with methanol to obtain a first extract;
(b) extracting the first extract with water to obtain a second extract; and
(c) precipitating the second extract with ethanol to obtain the polysaccharides.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the polysaccharides are administered orally.