OBJECTIVETo study mRNA expression levels of main hematopoietic growth factors in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC), and to compare effect on mRNA expression levels treated by ginseng polysaccharide and ginsenoside.

METHODSRelative quantification real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to observe mRNA expression levels of IL4, Csf2, Kitlg, Csf1, IL6, Lif, Csf3, IL11, Epo, and IL3, etc. in rat BM-MSC treated with ginseng polysaccharide (20 microg/mL) or ginsenoside (20 microg/mL) at 12, 24, and 36 h.

RESULTSIL4 and Csf2 mRNA expressions were not detected. Relative expression of Kitlg, Csf1, IL6, Lif, Csf3, IL11, Epo and IL3 mRNA ranked in an attenuating order when compared with Gapdh mRNA. mRNA expression of Epo and IL3 was not significantly changed at any time point by treatment of ginseng polysaccharide or ginsenoside in rat BM-MSC (P > 0.05). mRNA expression of Csf1, IL6, Lif, Csf3 and IL11 were significantly enhanced at 12 and 36 h by treatment of ginseng polysaccharide (P < 0.05) and that of Csf1, IL6, Lif, Csf3, and Kitlg were significantly enhanced at 24 h in rat BM-MSC (P < 0.05). The enhanced mRNA expression was Csf3 at 12 h, Csf3, IL6 and Lif at 24 h, and Csf3, IL6, Lif, IL11, and Kitlg, respectively at 36 h by treatment of ginsenoside in rat BM-MSC.

CONCLUSIONSThe enhancement of ginseng polysaccharide was stronger than that of ginsenoside on mRNA expression of hematopoietic growth factors in the initial stage. As time went by, the enhancement of ginsenoside gradually increased and exceeded that of ginseng polysaccharide.