Molecular mechanism of macrophage activation by red ginseng acidic polysaccharide from Korean red ginseng

Mediators Inflamm. 2012:2012:732860. doi: 10.1155/2012/732860. Epub 2012 Feb 1.

Abstract

Red ginseng acidic polysaccharide (RGAP), isolated from Korean red ginseng, displays immunostimulatory and antitumor activities. Even though numerous studies have been reported, the mechanism as to how RGAP is able to stimulate the immune response is not clear. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism of molecular activation of RGAP in macrophages. RGAP treatment strongly induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells without altering morphological changes, although the activity was not strong compared to LPS-induced dendritic-like morphology in RAW264.7 cells. RGAP-induced NO production was accompanied with enhanced mRNA levels of iNOS and increases in nuclear transcription factors such as NF-κB, AP-1, STAT-1, ATF-2, and CREB. According to pharmacological evaluation with specific enzyme inhibitors, Western blot analysis of intracellular signaling proteins and inhibitory pattern using blocking antibodies, ERK, and JNK were found to be the most important signaling enzymes compared to LPS signaling cascade. Further, TLR2 seems to be a target surface receptor of RGAP. Lastly, macrophages isolated from RGS2 knockout mice or wortmannin exposure strongly upregulated RGAP-treated NO production. Therefore, our results suggest that RGAP can activate macrophage function through activation of transcription factors such as NF-κB and AP-1 and their upstream signaling enzymes such as ERK and JNK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / genetics
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / metabolism
  • Immunoblotting
  • Macrophage Activation / drug effects*
  • Macrophages / drug effects
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • NF-kappa B / genetics
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Panax / chemistry*
  • Polysaccharides / pharmacology*
  • RGS Proteins / deficiency
  • RGS Proteins / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / genetics
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor / metabolism
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / genetics
  • Transcription Factor AP-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • Activating Transcription Factor 2
  • Atf2 protein, mouse
  • Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein
  • NF-kappa B
  • Polysaccharides
  • RGS Proteins
  • Rgs2 protein, mouse
  • STAT1 Transcription Factor
  • Stat1 protein, mouse
  • Transcription Factor AP-1