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Published on: November 28, 2019
Induction of secretory and tumoricidal activities in peritoneal macrophages by ginsan
Jie-Young Song1, Seon-Kyu Han, Eun-Hwa Son
1Laboratory of Immunology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Abstract:
The immunomodulatory effect of ginsan based on the production of cytokines and the activation of macrophage was studied. Murine peritoneal macrophages (PM) on in vitro treatment with ginsan isolated from Panax ginseng induced mRNA of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin-1 (IL-1)beta, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-12 (IL-12); TNF-alpha mRNA induction was maximum within 3 h, IL-6 mRNA was gradually induced up to 24 h, and IL-1beta and IL-12 mRNA were highly induced at 24 h. IL-1beta and IL-6 protein levels also increased within 24 h in a dose-dependent manner and reached a maximum with 100 microg/ml ginsan. IL-12 was induced after 3 days and a high level of induction was detected after 4 days post treatment. Ginsan enhanced the lytic death of L929 cells through TNF-alpha activation. The mRNA expression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was highly induced after 24 h treatment of ginsan, and then NO production was maximum after 48-h treatment with a low dose of 1 microg/ml. The level of iNOS mRNA induction by ginsan was slightly less than that of macrophages activating agents such as LPS plus IFN-gamma. The tumoricidal activity of macrophage cultured with ginsan on Yac-1 cells was enhanced in a dose-dependent manner; growth inhibition increased 1.6-fold with 100 microg/ml ginsan. These results suggest that ginsan exerts as an effective immunomodulator and enhances antitumor activity of macrophages.
Insights
Ginsan, derived from Panax ginseng, effectively modulates the immune system by stimulating cytokine production and macrophage activation. This study demonstrates ginsan
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Natural Products
Background:
- Ginsan is a compound isolated from Panax ginseng.
- Immunomodulatory effects are often linked to cytokine production and macrophage activation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the immunomodulatory effects of ginsan.
- To determine ginsan's impact on cytokine production and macrophage activation.
- To evaluate ginsan's potential in enhancing antitumor activity.
Main Methods:
- In vitro treatment of murine peritoneal macrophages (PM) with ginsan.
- Analysis of cytokine mRNA and protein expression (TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-12).
- Assessment of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression and nitric oxide (NO) production.
- Evaluation of macrophage-mediated tumor cell lysis (L929 and Yac-1 cells).
Main Results:
- Ginsan induced mRNA for TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-12 in PM.
- Protein levels of IL-1beta and IL-6 increased dose-dependently with ginsan.
- Ginsan enhanced macrophage-mediated lysis of L929 cells via TNF-alpha.
- Ginsan induced iNOS mRNA and NO production, with enhanced tumoricidal activity against Yac-1 cells.
Conclusions:
- Ginsan acts as an effective immunomodulator.
- Ginsan enhances the antitumor activity of macrophages.
- Ginsan shows potential as a therapeutic agent for immune modulation and cancer treatment.
