Induction of secretory and tumoricidal activities in peritoneal macrophages by ginsan.
The immunomodulatory effect of ginsan based on the production of cytokines and the activation of macrophage was studied. Murine peritoneal macrophages (PM) on in vitro treatment with ginsan isolated from Panax ginseng induced mRNA of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1)beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12); TNF-alpha mRNA induction was maximum within 3 h, IL-6 mRNA was gradually induced up to 24 h, and IL-1beta and IL-12 mRNA were highly induced at 24 h. IL-1beta and IL-6 protein levels also increased within 24 h in a dose-dependent manner and reached a maximum with 100 microg/ml ginsan. IL-12 was induced after 3 days and a high level of induction was detected after 4 days post treatment. Ginsan enhanced the lytic death of L929 cells through TNF-alpha activation. The mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was highly induced after 24 h treatment of ginsan, and then NO production was maximum after 48-h treatment with a low dose of 1 microg/ml. The level of iNOS mRNA induction by ginsan was slightly less than that of macrophages activating agents such as LPS plus IFN-gamma. The tumoricidal activity of macrophage cultured with ginsan on Yac-1 cells was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner; growth inhibition increased 1.6-fold with 100 microg/ml ginsan. These results suggest that ginsan exerts as an effective immunomodulator and enhances antitumor activity of macrophages.
Laboratory of Immunology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Jie-Young
JY
Song
Seon-Kyu
SK
Han
Eun-Hwa
EH
Son
Suhk-Neung
SN
Pyo
Yeon-Sook
YS
Yun
Seh-Yoon
SY
Yi
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011134:Polysaccharides; C111520:ginsan