Ginsenoside Rb1: The new treatment measure of myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by fatigue and muscle weakness. Ginseng is used in the treatment of MG. Ginsenoside Rb1 (G-Rb1), the most abundant ginsenoside in ginseng root, has been proved to be immune regulatory in various diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of G-Rb1 in treatment for MG in a rat model. Our data showed that G-Rb1 treatment markedly ameliorated the symptoms of experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis (EAMG) rats, decreased the percentage of Th17 cells in mononuclear cells (MNCs), and increased the number of Treg and Th2 cells in MNCs. We also found that G-Rb1 treatment decreased the serum level of anti-R97-116 peptides IgG1 and IgG2a antibodies. Our findings provide strong evidence that G-Rb1 treatment has immune regulatory effects in EAMG rats, which indicate that G-Rb1 may be employed as a therapeutic medication for MG.
Institute of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, CAS Center for Excellence in Brain Science, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Wei
W
Chen
Department of Neurology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Chinese, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
Qing-Fang
QF
Meng
College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
Jun-Kang
JK
Sui
Affiliated Hospital of Taishan Medical College, Tai'an, Shandong 271000, China.
Yan-Jun
YJ
Wang
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
Xiao-Li
XL
Li
Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
Shen
S
Liu
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
Heng
H
Li
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
Cong-Cong
CC
Wang
Department of Neurology, Jinan Municipal Hospital of CMM, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China.
Chun-Hong
CH
Li
Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China. Electronic address: 13864006933@163.com.
Yan-Bin
YB
Li
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D036145:Ginsenosides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology; D020720:Myasthenia Gravis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
D016207:Cytokines; D036145:Ginsenosides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; C442759:ginsenoside Rb1
Ginsenoside Rb1; IL-10; IL-4; Myasthenia gravis; Th17 cells; Treg cells