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The immunomodulator ginsan induces resistance to experimental sepsis by inhibiting Toll‐like receptor‐mediated inflammatory signals
Author(s) -
Ahn JiYeon,
Choi InSoo,
Shim JiYoung,
Yun EunKyung,
Yun YeonSook,
Jeong Gajin,
Song JieYoung
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
european journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1521-4141
pISSN - 0014-2980
DOI - 10.1002/eji.200535138
Subject(s) - proinflammatory cytokine , toll like receptor , biology , receptor , sepsis , tlr4 , staphylococcus aureus , spleen , tumor necrosis factor alpha , ginseng , pharmacology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , inflammation , immune system , innate immune system , medicine , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology
Abstract Ginsan, a polysaccharide extracted from Panax ginseng , has multiple immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we show that pretreatment of ginsan (25 μg/kg) protected mice from lethality induced by Staphylococcus aureus challenge. This survival benefit was associated with enhanced bacterial clearance from circulation, spleen and kidney. The phagocytic activity of macrophages treated with ginsan was significantly enhanced against S. aureus . However, the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IFN‐γ, IL‐12, and IL‐18, was markedly down‐regulated in ginsan‐treated mice compared with those of control‐infected mice. The expression of Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 2 and the adaptor molecule MyD88, which was greatly increased in septic macrophages, was significantly reduced by ginsan treatment in vitro . Similarly, the expression of phospho‐JNK1/2, phospho‐p38 MAPK, and NF‐κB was decreased in the same culture system. These results illustrate that the antiseptic activity of ginsan can be attributed to enhanced bacterial clearance, and reduced proinflammatory cytokines via the TLR signaling pathway.