title: Panax quinquefolium saponins inhibited immune maturation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells via blocking nuclear factor-κB pathway.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Panax quinquefolium saponins (PQS), a water-soluble antioxidant extracted from a natural herb, radix panacis quinquefolii (American Ginseng), has yielded encouraging results in the treatment of atherosclerotic diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the anti-atherosclerotic effect of PQS might be mediated by suppressing human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) maturation.
  
  
  METHODS
  DCs were derived by incubating purified human monocytes with granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-4. DCs were pre-incubated with or without PQS and stimulated by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Expression of DCs membrane molecules (CD40, CD86, CD1a, HLA-DR) and endocytotic ability were analyzed by FACS, cytokines (IL-12 and TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway was determined by Western blotting, and RT-PCR. NF-κB activation was quantified by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PQS reduced ox-LDL induced immunophenotypic expressions (CD40, CD1a, CD86, and HLA-DR) and cytokine secretions (IL-12 and TNF-α), and improved endocytotic ability of DCs. These above phenomena were accompanied by decreased protein expression and binding activity of nuclear localized c-Rel subunit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggested that PQS inhibited ox-LDL induced immune maturation of DCs in vitro, which might be in part mediated by NF-κB signal transduction pathway.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Hongying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Dazhuo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chunyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Mingqiang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Junbo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ge
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology*; D005894:Panax; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D016328:NF-kappa B; C079995:Panax quinquefolium saponin; D010936:Plant Extracts; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D012503:Saponins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein