[Effects of ginsenoside and berberine on secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines in lung carcinoma cell line PG].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of ginsenoside (Gs) and berberine (Ber), two kinds of active components of traditional Chinese herbal medicine, on transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in PG cells.


METHODS
Co-culture system of human lung carcinoma cell line PG and human T lymphocyte cell line Jurkat was established. PG cells were treated with Gs (100 microg/ml) and Ber (10 mug/ml) for twenty-four hours, and then cocultured with Jurkat cells. After 24-hour coculture, the state of Jurkat cells was observed with inverted microscope. The viable count of Jurkat cells was detected by trypan blue staining after 6- and 24-hour coculture, and the apoptosis of Jurkat cells was evaluated by flow cytometry. PG cells were treated with 100, 50, 25 microg/ml Gs and 10, 5, 2.5 microg/ml Ber respectively, and the content of TGF-beta1 and PGE(2) in PG cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and radioimmunoassay (RIA) method.


RESULTS
After coculture with PG cells treated with Gs and Ber, the number of Jurkat cells was less than blank control group, and the apoptosis rates of Jurkat cells in Gs- and Ber-treated groups were higher than blank control group. Gs and Ber could promote the secretion of TGF-beta1 in PG cells, but could not change the level of PGE(2).


CONCLUSIONS
Gs and Ber can promote the growth inhibition and apoptosis of Jurkat cells induced by PG cells, which may be related to the up-regulation of Gs and Ber on TGF-beta1 secretion in PG cells.
Hao
Yu
Y
Department of Pathogenic Organism and Immunology, School of Preclinical Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. yuhao64@sina.com
Wang
Ping
P
Wu
Jun
J
Qiu
Quan-Ying
QY
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D036145:Ginsenosides; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D001599:Berberine; D015232:Dinoprostone