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. 2018 Jul 11;28(1):237-242.
doi: 10.1007/s10068-018-0428-8. eCollection 2019 Feb.

Ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng modulate T cell function via the regulation of NF-AT-mediated IL-2 production

Le Ba Vinh  1   2 , Jung Up Park  3 , Le Xuan Duy  1   4 , Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet  1 , Seo Young Yang  1 , Young Ran Kim  3 , Young Ho Kim  1
Affiliations

Ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng modulate T cell function via the regulation of NF-AT-mediated IL-2 production

Le Ba Vinh et al. Food Sci Biotechnol. .

Abstract

Korean red ginseng is a traditional health food frequently used to prevent or treat various diseases worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the immunomodulatory activities of eleven compounds (1-11) isolated from Korean red ginseng, focusing on T cell function. First, the effects of the eleven compounds were studied on the regulation of IL-2, a potent T cell growth factor. Compounds 5, 7, and 9 significantly increased IL-2 secretion in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)/ionomycin (Io)-induced EL-4 T cells. Next, we examined the effects of compounds 5, 7, and 9 on the regulation of transcription factors related to IL-2 production in T cells. Compound 9 significantly increased the PMA/Io-induced promoter activity of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT) in EL-4 T cells, but did not have any significant effects on the promoters of NF- κB. These results suggest that compound 9 activates T cell function via the regulation of NF-AT-mediated IL-2 production.

Keywords: Ginsenosides; IL-2; Korean red ginseng; Panax ginseng.

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Conflict of interest statement

Compliance with ethical standardsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Structure of ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Effect of compounds on IL-2 production in PMA/Io-induced EL-4 T cells
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effect of compounds 5, 7, and 9 on NF-AT and NF-κB promoter activities in PMA/Io-activated EL-4 T cells
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Effects of compounds 5, 7, and 9 on the viability of EL-4 T cells
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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