title: Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP) in combination with IFN-gamma results in enhanced macrophage function through activation of the NF-kappaB pathway.
abstract: This study examined the effects of red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP) on macrophage-mediated cytotoxicity towards murine melanoma B16 cells. RGAP alone had no effect on killing of tumor cells. RGAP treatment increased the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and nitric oxide (NO) by macrophages, whereas tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were not changed by RGAP. However, treatment of macrophages with a combination of RGAP and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) enhanced killing of tumor cells. In addition, the combination treatment showed marked cooperative induction of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, and NO production. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay analysis revealed that treatment of macrophages with RGAP plus rIFN-gamma induced the activation of the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcription factor. In agreement with this, the combination treatment resulted in increased NF-kappaB-p65 expression. The present results demonstrate synergistic effects on macrophage function of RGAP in combination with rIFN-gamma, and suggest that NF-kappaB plays an important role in mediating these effects. These data also support the development of clinical studies of this combination.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunopharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Sook
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Kyung-Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eunwha
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Jong-Dae
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Byung-Oh
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Yi
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Dong-Kwon
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Suhkneung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pyo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011134:Polysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D007371:Interferon-gamma