title: Potentiation of natural killer (NK) cell activity by methanol extract of cultured cambial meristematic cells of wild ginseng and its mechanism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As an alternative strategy to obtain large amounts of ginseng extract with high yield of ginsenosides, we have utilized culture of cambial meristematic cells (CMCs) from wild ginseng. The anti-tumor effects of methanol extract of ginseng CMCs (MEGC) and their action mechanisms were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mice were intraperitoneally administered with MEGC, and we explored NK cell activity, suppression of in vivo growth of tumor cells and relevant molecule expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MEGC significantly potentiated NK cell activity and suppressed in vivo growth of B16 melanoma cells. However, we observed no increase in NK cell number and unaltered expression of NK cell-activating (NKG2D) and inhibitory (Ly49, CD94/NKG2A) receptors as well as NK cell activation markers (CD25, CD69, CD119, and CD212) in MEGC-treated group compared to the controls. Instead, MEGC significantly enhanced IL-2 responsiveness in the early effector phase and the constitutive expression of granzyme B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that culture of CMCs is an attractive alternative method for sustainable production of ginseng extracts and clinical use. In addition, we have unraveled a novel mechanism underlying the potentiation of NK cell activity and antitumor effect of ginseng extract, in which it upregulates the constitutive expression of cytotoxic mediator(s) and IL-2 responsiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Alternative Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Jeonju University, Jeonju 560-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: A Yeung
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.affiliation: Department of Alternative Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Jeonju University, Jeonju 560-759, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Christian Medical Research Institute, Presbyterian Medical Center, Jeonju 560-750, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Hye
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 560-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Pyung Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju 560-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju 562-222, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Woo
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju 562-222, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Eun-Kyong
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju 562-222, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju 562-222, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Il Seok
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Plant Stem Cell Institute, Unhwa Corp., Jeonju 562-222, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeung Youb
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Alternative Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Jeonju University, Jeonju 560-759, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: sangyun@jj.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sang-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Nam
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058506:Cambium / Q000737:chemistry*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D051379:Mice; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D059828:Plant Cells / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000432:Methanol
keywords: Anti-tumor activity; Cytotoxicity; Granzyme; Perforin