Ginsenoside fractions regulate the action of monocytes and their differentiation into dendritic cells

BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng (i.e., ginseng) root is extensively used in traditional oriental medicine. It is a modern pharmaceutical reagent for preventing various human diseases such as cancer. Ginsenosides—the major active components of ginseng—exhibit immunomodulatory effects. However, the mechanism and function underlying such effects are not fully elucidated, especially in human monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs). METHODS: We investigated the immunomodulatory effect of ginsenosides from Panax ginseng root on CD14(+) monocytes purified from human adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and on their differentiation into DCs that affect CD4(+) T cell activity. RESULTS: After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, monocyte levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 increased through phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). After treatment with ginsenoside fractions, TNF-α production and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and JNK decreased in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitized monocytes. We confirmed that DCs derived from CD14(+) monocytes in the presence of ginsenoside fractions (Gin-DCs) contained decreased levels of the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86. The expression of these costimulatory molecules decreased in LPS-treated DCs exposed to ginsenoside fractions, compared to their expression in LPS-treated DCs in the absence of ginsenoside fractions. Furthermore, LPS-treated Gin-DCs could not induce proliferation and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) production by CD4(+) T cells with the coculture of Gin-DCs with CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ginsenoside fractions from the ginseng root suppress cytokine production and maturation of LPS-treated DCs and downregulate CD4(+) T cells.