Ginsenoside Rg1 promotes endothelial progenitor cell migration and proliferation.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on the migration, adhesion, proliferation, and VEGF expression of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs).


METHODS
EPCs were isolated from human peripheral blood and incubated with different concentrations of ginsenoside Rg1 (0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 micromol/L) and vehicle controls. EPC migration was detected with a modified Boyden chamber assay. EPC adhesion was determined by counting adherent cells on fibronectin-coated culture dishes. EPC proliferation was analyzed with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In vitro vasculogenesis was assayed using an in vitro vasculogenesis detection kit. A VEGF-ELISA kit was used to measure the amount of VEGF protein in the cell culture medium.


RESULTS
Ginsenoside Rg1 promoted EPC adhesion, proliferation, migration and in vitro vasculogenesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis showed that 5.0 micromol/L of ginsenoside Rg1 significantly increased the EPC proliferative phase (S phase) and decreased the resting phase (G(0)/G(1) phase). Ginsenoside Rg1 increased vascular endothelial growth factor production.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that ginsenoside Rg1 promotes proliferation, migration, adhesion and in vitro vasculogenesis.
Shi
Ai-wu
AW
Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. shiaiwu_2004@sina.com
Wang
Xiao-bin
XB
Lu
Feng-xiang
FX
Zhu
Min-min
MM
Kong
Xiang-qing
XQ
Cao
Ke-jiang
KJ
D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism
D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D036145:Ginsenosides; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C035054:ginsenoside Rg1