Rg6, a rare ginsenoside, inhibits systemic inflammation through the induction of interleukin-10 and microRNA-146a

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 13;9(1):4342. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-40690-8.

Abstract

The immunobiological functions of Rg6, a rare ginsenoside from ginseng, have been largely unreported. In this paper, we demonstrate that Rg6 has a significant immunosuppressive function on Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-induced systemic inflammatory responses. Rg6 was found to negatively regulate pro-inflammatory responses and severity in vivo, and thus induced recovery in mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced septic shock and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis. Rg6 treatment also facilitated recovery in mice with LPS-induced lung damage via reduced neutrophil infiltration and tumor necrosis factor-α expression in lung tissues. Rg6 injection also downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased the levels of interleukin (IL)-10 in the serum of septic mice. Mechanistically, Rg6 did not induce TLR negative regulators, such as A20 and IRAK-M, in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). Instead, addition of Rg6 to LPS-activated BMDMs augmented IL-10 expression, whereas it inhibited inflammatory signaling, such as by nuclear factor κB activation and mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, Rg6 significantly induced miR-146a, an operator miRNA for anti-inflammation, in BMDMs. Collectively, these data indicate that Rg6 inhibits inflammatory responses through the induction of IL-10 and miR-146a.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Ginsenosides / pharmacology*
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis*
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Mice
  • MicroRNAs / biosynthesis*
  • Sepsis / chemically induced
  • Sepsis / etiology
  • Sepsis / metabolism
  • Sepsis / prevention & control
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Ginsenosides
  • IL10 protein, mouse
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • MicroRNAs
  • Mirn146 microRNA, mouse
  • Interleukin-10