title: Ginseng diminishes lung disease in mice immunized with formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus after challenge by modulating host immune responses.
abstract: Formalin-inactivated respiratory syncytial virus (FI-RSV) immunization is known to cause severe pulmonary inflammatory disease after subsequent RSV infection. Ginseng has been used in humans for thousands of years due to its potential health benefits. We investigated whether ginseng would have immune modulating effects on RSV infection in mice previously immunized with FI-RSV. Oral administration of mice with ginseng increased IgG2a isotype antibody responses to FI-RSV immunization, indicating T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses. Ginseng-treated mice that were nonimmunized or previously immunized with FI-RSV showed improved protection against RSV challenge compared with control mice without ginseng treatment. Ginseng-mediated improved clinical outcomes after live RSV infection were evidenced by diminished weight losses, decreased interleukin-4 cytokine production but increased interferon-γ production, modulation of CD3 T-cell populations toward a Th1 response, and reduced inflammatory response. Ginseng-mediated protective host immune modulation against RSV pulmonary inflammation was observed in different strains of wild-type and mutant mice. These results indicate that ginseng can modulate host immune responses to FI-RSV immunization and RSV infection, resulting in protective effects against pulmonary inflammatory disease.
authors: 1 Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University , Atlanta, Georgia .
authors: Jong Seok
authors: JS
authors: Lee
authors: Min Kyoung
authors: MK
authors: Cho
authors: Hye Suk
authors: HS
authors: Hwang
authors: Eun-Ju
authors: EJ
authors: Ko
authors: Yu-Na
authors: YN
authors: Lee
authors: Young-Man
authors: YM
authors: Kwon
authors: Min-Chul
authors: MC
authors: Kim
authors: Ki-Hye
authors: KH
authors: Kim
authors: Young-Tae
authors: YT
authors: Lee
authors: Yu-Jin
authors: YJ
authors: Jung
authors: Sang-Moo
authors: SM
authors: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000009:adverse effects; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D056747:Immunomodulation; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D005894:Panax / Q000276:immunology*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000276:immunology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012136:Respiratory Syncytial Viruses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D022261:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines; D015164:Vaccines, Inactivated; D005557:Formaldehyde; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma