title: RG-II from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer suppresses asthmatic reaction.
abstract: In asthma, T helper 2 (T(H)2)-type cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13 are produced by activated CD4(+) T cells. Dendritic cells played an important role in determining the fate of naive T cells into either T(H)1 or T(H)2 cells. We determined whether RG-II regulates the T(H)1/T(H)2 immune response by using an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma. RG-II reduced IL-4 production but increased interferon- gamma production, and inhibited GATA-3 gene expression. RG-II also inhibited asthmatic reactions including an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, an increase in inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissues, airway luminal narrowing, and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study provides evidence that RG-II plays a critical role in ameliorating the pathogenic process of asthmatic inflammation in mice. These findings provide new insights into the immunotherapeutic role of RG-II in terms of its effects in a murine model of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, yangsan 626-770, Korea.
authors.forename: In Duk
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Hye Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Wook
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chang-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung Tae
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.forename: Hyun Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Deok Rim
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.forename: Su Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kwang Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Hee-ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Yeong-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D011134:Polysaccharides; C572672:RG-II, Panax ginseng; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin