Immune Netw.  2015 Dec;15(6):331-336. 10.4110/in.2015.15.6.331.

Ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 Induce IgA Production by Mouse B Cells

• Park HY
• Lee SH
• Lee KS
• Yoon HK
• Yoo YC
• Lee J
• Choi JE
• Kim PH
• Park SR

• KMID: 2132708
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4110/in.2015.15.6.331

Abstract

Ginsenosides are the major components of ginseng, which is known to modulate blood pressure, metabolism, and immune function, and has been used to treat various diseases. It has been reported that ginseng and several ginsenosides have immunoregulatory effects on the innate and T cell-mediated immune response. However, their effects on the humoral immune response have not been fully explored. The present study examined the direct effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) and ginsenosides on mouse B cell proliferation and on antibody production and the expression of germline transcripts (GLT) by mouse B cells in vitro. RGE slightly reduced B cell proliferation, but increased IgA production by LPS-stimulated B cells. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 selectively induced IgA production and expression of GLTalpha transcripts by LPS-stimulated B cells. Collectively, these results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 and 20(S)-Rg3 can drive the differentiation of B cells into IgA-producing cells through the selective induction of GLTalpha expression.

Keyword

Ginseng; Ginsenoside; IgA; Germline alpha transcripts; B cells

MeSH Terms

Animals
Antibody Formation
B-Lymphocytes*
Blood Pressure
Cell Proliferation
Ginsenosides
Immunity, Humoral
Immunoglobulin A*
Metabolism
Mice*
Panax
Ginsenosides
Immunoglobulin A

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Effects of red ginseng extract on B cell proliferation and antibody production. Purified mouse splenic B cells were stimulated with LPS (1 µg/ml) and red ginseng extracts (RGE1 and RGE2; each 200 µg/ml). (A) After 2, 3 and 4 days of culture, cell proliferation (OD) was measured using an EZ-Cytox cell viability assay. Data are averages of two independent experiments with ranges (bars). (B) After 7 days of culture, supernatants were harvested, and levels of Igs production were determined using an isotype-specific ELISA. Data represent means±SEM of triplicate samples. *p<0.05.

• 

  Figure 2 Effects of ginsenosides on antibody production and expression of germline transcripts. Purified mouse splenic B cells were stimulated with LPS (12.5 µg/ml), ginsenoside [Rb1, Rg1, and 20(S)-Rg3; each 2 µg/ml], and TGF-β1 (0.2 ng/ml). (A) After 7 days of culture, supernatants were harvested and levels of Igs production were determined using an isotype-specific ELISA. Data represent the average±SEM of three independent experiments. *p<0.05. (B) After 2 and 3 days of culture, cell proliferation (OD) was measured using an EZ-Cytox cell viability assay. Data are averages of two independent experiments with ranges (bars). (C) After 2.5 days of culture, RNAs were isolated, and GLTs and β-actin mRNA levels were measured by RT-PCR. Data are representative of two independent experiments.

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