title: Role of transforming growth factor-beta pathway in the mechanism of wound healing by saponin from Ginseng Radix rubra.
abstract: 1. The effects of saponin from Ginseng Radix rubra on extracellular matrix metabolism, the activation and synthesis of TGF-beta1, and the modification of TGF-beta receptor in fibroblasts were examined to elucidate the contribution of the TGF-beta pathway to the mechanism of wound healing by saponin. 2. Fibronectin synthesis was analysed by the immunoprecipitation method. Activation and synthesis of TGF-beta1 were measured by ELISA. The expressions of TGF-beta receptors in fibroblasts were examined at protein and mRNA levels by the cross-linking method and Northern blot analysis, respectively. 3. The fibronectin synthesis increased 2.3- and 3.9-fold at fibroblasts treated with 1 and 10 microg ml(-1) of saponin, respectively, compared with that in non-treated cells. Fibronectin synthesis stimulated with 10 microg ml(-1) of saponin was inhibited with 69% by 5 microg ml(-1) of an anti-TGF-beta1 antibody. mRNA of TGF-beta type I receptor increased 4.8- and 4.4-fold at fibroblasts treated with 1 and 10 microg ml(-1) of saponin, respectively, and that of TGF-beta type II receptor also increased 3.4- and 3.2-fold at fibroblasts treated with 1 and 10 microg ml(-1) of saponin, respectively. The significant increases of TGF-beta type I and II receptors and of fibronectin synthesis were observed at the same concentrations of saponin. TGF-beta content increased 1.74- and 1.87-fold at conditioned medium of fibroblasts treated with 100 and 250 microg ml(-1) of saponin, respectively, higher concentrations than those which accelerated fibronectin synthesis. Furthermore, the active TGF-beta content was below 10% of total TGF-beta at each concentration of saponin. 4. These results indicate that saponin stimulates fibronectin synthesis through the changes of TGF-beta receptor expressions in fibroblasts.
authors.affiliation: The Second Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba City, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanzaki
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morisaki
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shiina
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005353:Fibronectins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D012503:Saponins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta