Consistent with the immunohistochemical staining results, RT-PCR results showed that the levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β were up-regulated in the colon of HF mice (P < 0.001, Fig. 3h), while L. edodes β-glucan inhibited the expression of these proinflammatory cytokines induced by HF diet (P < 0.01, Fig. 3h). This evidence concerns the gene TNF and hydrops fetalis.