Ginsenoside Rg1-induced alterations in gene expression in TNF-alpha stimulated endothelial cells.
BACKGROUND
In China the ginseng root began to be used in medicine over 2000 years ago. Ginsenosides are the most important component isolated from ginseng. The authors investigated the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the spectrum of gene expression in the endothelial cells stimulated by TNF-alpha and further explored the potential molecular mechanism of endothelial protection by ginsenoside Rg1.


METHODS
Nitric oxide (NO) production in the cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was measured by using an NO assay kit. A home-made oligonucleotide microarray containing approximately 400 cardiovascular disease-related genes was constructed. The alteration of the spectrum of gene expression induced by ginsenoside Rg1 in HUVECs which were activated by TNF-alpha were detected by oligonucleotide microarray analysis.


RESULTS
NO production in HUVECs was decreased significantly after TNF-alpha treatment, while pretreatment with ginsenoside Rg1 enhanced NO production in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 affected the expression levels of genes involved in vascular constriction, cell adherence, coagulation, cell growth and signal transduction in TNF-alphastimulated HUVECs.


CONCLUSIONS
Ginsenoside Rg1 could enhance NO production and the expression of eNOS mRNA in TNF-alpha stimulated HUVECs. Ginsenoside Rg1 regulated sets of genes in endothelial cells and protected endothelial cells from TNF-alpha activation. Microarray analysis provided us with valuable insights into the atheroprotective mechanism by gingsenoside Rg1.
Lü
Jun-ping
JP
Department of Pathophysiology, West China Medical Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Ma
Zeng-chun
ZC
Yang
Jing
J
Huang
Jian
J
Wang
Shu-ren
SR
Wang
Sheng-qi
SQ
D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D036145:Ginsenosides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1