Ginseng and Salviae herbs play a role as immune activators and modulate immune responses during influenza virus infection.
We have investigated the adjuvant roles of common herbal medicines (ginseng, Salviae) and their effects on early immune responses during influenza virus infection in a mouse model. Intranasal co-administration with inactivated influenza virus A (PR8) and ginseng or Salviae extract increased the levels of influenza virus specific antibodies and neutralizing activities compared to immunization with PR8 alone, and provided protective immunity. Salviae co-administration significantly enhanced IFN-gamma and IL-2 cytokine producing splenocytes while ginseng induced high levels of IL-4 and IL-5 cytokine producing cells after challenge infection. Cells expressing an early activation marker CD69 and levels of a pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 were highly elevated in lungs from naïve mice during challenge virus infection, which might be a mechanism in lung inflammation leading to death. In contrast, immunized mice that were co-administered ginseng or Salviae modulated CD69 expressing immune cells, did not produce IL-6, and showed significant enhancement of influenza virus specific IgA antibody in lungs after challenge virus infection. Therefore, these results indicate that both ginseng and Salviae play a role as mucosal adjuvants against influenza virus as well as immuno-modulators during influenza virus infection.
Quan
Fu Shi
FS
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 1510 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States.
Compans
Richard W
RW
Cho
Young-Keol
YK
Kang
Sang-Moo
SM
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005260:Female; D007114:Immunization; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D027544:Salvia; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000099192:CD69 Antigens