title: Proliferation- and migration-enhancing effects of ginseng and ginsenoside Rg1 through IGF-I- and FGF-2-signaling pathways on RSC96 Schwann cells.
abstract: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the proliferation- and migration-enhancing effects of ginseng and its component, ginsenoside (Rg1) on RSC96 Schwann cells. We investigated the molecular signaling pathways, which include: (1) survival signaling, IGFs-IGFIR-Akt-Bcl2 and proliferative signaling, cell cycle factors and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, (2) migrating and anti-scar signaling, FGF-2-uPA-MMPs.We treated RSC96 cells with different concentrations (100, 200, 300, 400, 500 microg ml(-1)) of ginseng and its constituent, Rg1 (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 microg ml(-1)). We observed a proliferative effect in a dose-dependent manner by PCNA western blotting assay, MTT assay, and wound healing test. Furthermore, we also found in the results of western blotting assay, ginseng and Rg1 enhance protein expression of IGF-I pathway regulators, cell cycle controlling proteins, and MAPK signaling pathways to promote the cell proliferation. In addition, ginseng and Rg1 also stimulated the FGF-2-uPA-MMP 9 migrating pathway to enhance the migration of RSC96 Schwann cells. Using MAPK chemical inhibitors, U0126, SB203580, and SP600125, the proliferative effects of ginseng and Rg1 on RSC96 cells were identified to be MAPK signaling-dependent. On the basis of the results, applying appropriate doses of ginseng and Rg1 with biomedical materials would be a potential approach for enhancing neuron regeneration.
authors.affiliation: School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Tung-Yuan
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hsien-Te
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Sheng-Huang
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hwai-Lee
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chien-Chung
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Wei-Wen
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: Chih-Yang
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Huang