Immunoenhancing activity of protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside-F3 in murine spleen cells.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the immunoenhancing activity of ginsenoside-F3 in murine spleen cells and explore its mechanism.


METHODS
The enhancing effect of ginsenoside-F3 on murine spleen cell proliferation was studied using [3H]thymidine incorporation assay. Effects of ginsenoside-F3 on the production of type 1 cytokines IL-2, IFN-gamma, and type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 from murine spleen cells were detected by ELISA method. Effects of ginsenoside-F3 on mRNA level of cytokines IL-4, IFN-gamma, and transcription factors T-bet and GATA-3 were evaluated by RT-PCR analysis. Effect of ginsenoside-F3 on NF-kappaB DNA binding activity in murine spleen cells was investigated by electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA).


RESULTS
Ginsenoside-F3 at 0.1-100 micromol/L not only promoted the murine spleen cell proliferation, but also increased the production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma, while decreased the production of IL-4 and IL-10 from murine spleen cells with the maximal effect at 10 micromol/L. RT-PCR analysis displayed that ginsenoside-F3 enhanced the IFN-gamma and T-bet gene expression and decreased IL-4 and GATA-3 gene expression. EMSA experiment showed that ginsenoside-F3 10 micromol/L enhanced the NF-kappaB DNA binding activity induced by ConA in murine spleen cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Ginsenoside-F3 has immunoenhancing activity by regulating production and gene expression of type 1 cytokines and type 2 cytokines in murine spleen cells.
Yu
Jun-li
JL
Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
Dou
De-qiang
DQ
Chen
Xiao-hong
XH
Yang
Hong-zhen
HZ
Guo
Na
N
Cheng
Gui-fang
GF
D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002469:Cell Separation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012502:Sapogenins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D016207:Cytokines; D036145:Ginsenosides; D012502:Sapogenins; D014315:Triterpenes; C407884:ginsenoside F3; C081552:protopanaxatriol