Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides Rk3 and Rs4 exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner. SF and Rg6 also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-alpha-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.
Cell Line ; Cotyledon ; Flowers* ; Ginsenosides* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; NF-kappa B* ; Panax* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Steam* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Panax ginseng is a medicinal herb that is used worldwide. Its medicinal effects are primarily attributable to ginsenosides located in the root, leaf, seed, and flower. The flower buds of Panax ginseng (FBPG) are rich in various bioactive ginsenosides, which exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of 18 ginsenosides isolated from steamed FBPG on the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated target genes in liver-derived cell lines. Noticeably, the ginsenosides Rk3 and Rs4 exerted the strongest activity, inhibiting NF-kappaB in a dose-dependent manner. SF and Rg6 also showed moderately inhibitory effects. Furthermore, these four compounds inhibited the TNF-alpha-induced expression of IL8, CXCL1, iNOS, and ICAM1 genes. Consequently, ginsenosides purified from steamed FBPG have therapeutic potential in TNF-alpha-mediated diseases such as chronic hepatic inflammation.
Cell Line ; Cotyledon ; Flowers* ; Ginsenosides* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-8 ; NF-kappa B* ; Panax* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Steam* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: There have been many in vitro evidences that interleukin-4(IL-4) might be the most important cytokine inducing IgE synthesis from B-cells, and interferon-gamma(IFN-gamma) might be a main cytokine antagonizing IL-4-mediated IgE synthesis. Recently some reports demonstrated that IFN-gamma might be used as a new therapeutic modality in some allergic diseases with high serum IgE level, such as atopic dermatitis or bronchial asthma. To evaluate the in vivo, effect of IFN-gamma in bronchial asthma we tried a clinical study. METHODS: Fifty bronchial asthmatics(serum, IgE level over 200 IU/ml) who did not respond to inhaled or systemic corticosteroid treatment, and 17 healthy nonsmoking volunteers were included in this study. The CD 23 expressions of peripheral B-cells, the IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells, the serum soluble CD23(sCD23) levels, and the superoxide anton(O2-) generations by peripheral PMN were compared between bronchial asthmatics and normal subjects. The IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells were analyzed by T-cell supernatant (T-sup)-induced CD23 expression from tonsil B-cells. In bronchial asthmatics the serum IgE levels and histamine PC. in addition to the above parameters were also compared before and after IFN-gamma treatment. IFN-gamma was administered subcutaneously with a weekly dose of 30,000 IU per kilogram of body weight for 4 weeks. RESULTS: The O2-, generations by peripheral PMNs in bronchial asthmatics were higher than normal subjects(8.23+/-0.94 vs 5.00+/-0.68 nmol/l x10(6) cells, P<0.05), and significantly decreased after IFN-gamma treatment compared to initial values(3.69+/-0.88 vs 8.61 +/- 1.53 nmol/l x 106 cells, P<0.05). CD23 expression of peripheral B-cells in bronchial asthmatics was higher than normal subjects(47.47 +/- 2.96% vs 31.62+/-1.92%, P<0.05), but showed no significant change after IFN-gammatreatment. The serum sCD23 levels in bronchial asthmatics were slightly higher than normal subjects( 191.04+/-23.3 U/ml vs 162.85+/-4.85 U/ml). and 11(64.7%) of 17 patients showed a decreasing pattern in their serum sCD23 levels after IFN-gamma treatment. However the means of serum sCD23 levels were not different before and after IFN-gamma treatment The IL-4 activities of peripheral T-cells in bronchial asthmatics were slightly higher than normal subjects 22.48 +/-6.81% vs 18.90+/-2.43%), and slightly increased after IFN-gamma treatment(27.90+/-2.56%). Nine(60%) of 15 patients showed a decreasing pattern in their serum IgE levels after IFN-gamma treatment. And the levels of serum IgE were significantly decreased after LEN-y treatment compared to initial values (658.67 +/- 120.84 IU/ml vs 1394.32 +/- 31442 IU/ml, P<0.05). Ten(83.3%) of 12 patients showed an improving pattern in bronchial hyperresponsiveness after IFN-gamma treatment, and the means of histamine PC20 were significantly increased after IFN-gamma treatment compared to initial values (1.22+/-0.29mg/ml vs 0.69+/-0.17mg/ml P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IFN-gamma may k useful as well as safety in the treatment of bronchial asthmatics with high serum IgE level and that in vivo effects of IFN-gamma may be different from its in vitro effects on the regulations of IgE synthesis or the respiratory burst of PMN.
Asthma* ; B-Lymphocytes ; Body Weight ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Family Characteristics ; Histamine ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Interferon-gamma* ; Interleukin-4 ; Palatine Tonsil ; Respiratory Burst ; Social Control, Formal ; Superoxides ; T-Lymphocytes ; Volunteers

Mayaro virus (MAYV) is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that produces an acute, usually non-fatal, febrile illness including Mayaro fever. Like other alphaviruses, the MAYV E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins are major viral surface antigens that play a key role in host recognition and infection. Here, we report expression and purification methods for recombinant MAYV E1 (rE1) and rE2 using a baculovirus system. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) revealed that rE1 and rE2 were antigenic and reacted with human anti-MAYV IgG and IgM. Cross-reactivity was also confirmed with human anti-Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) IgG and IgM. Furthermore, we developed an immunochromatographic strip test (IST) with rE2 to diagnose MAYV infection. Thus, purified rE2 may be valuable tool for rapidly diagnosing MAYV infection.