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Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice through inhibition of cytokine secretion and lymphocyte infiltration

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Abstract

The effect of ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) on hepatic damage caused by concanavalin A (Con A) has not been fully elucidated. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of Rg1 on Con A-induced hepatitis in mice and explore the potential mechanisms of this effect. C57BL/6 mice were divided randomly into the following four experimental groups: phosphate-buffered saline group, Rg1 group, Con A group, Con A + Rg1 group. Mice received Rg1 (20 mg/kg) 3 h before intravenous administration of Con A (15 mg/kg). Levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase and cytokine production were measured, the amount of phosphorylated IκBα and p65 were tested, the numbers of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes infiltrated in the blood, spleen and liver were calculated, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and interferon-inducible chemokine-10 (CXCL-10) levels were measured and histological examination of the livers was conducted. Pretreatment with Rg1 markedly reduced the elevated levels of serum aminotransferase, ameliorated liver damage and suppressed proinflammatory cytokines secretion via inhibition NF-κB activity following Con A injection of mice. Furthermore, Rg1 administration reduced ICAM-1 and CXCL-10 mRNA expression in the liver as well as the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes infiltrating in the liver. Rg1 reduced the incidence of liver damage through inhibition of the proinflammatory response and suppressed the recruitment of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes to the liver. These data indicate that Rg1 represents a novel agent for the treatment of T lymphocyte-dependent liver injury.

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Abbreviations

Con A:

Concanavalin A

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

ICAM-1:

Intercellular adhesion molecular-1

CXCL-10:

Interferon inducible

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Jun Wang for the help and advice with this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Lijun Cao, Yun Zou, Jiali Zhu, Xiaohua Fan & Jinbao Li

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  1. Lijun Cao
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  2. Yun Zou
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  3. Jiali Zhu
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  4. Xiaohua Fan
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  5. Jinbao Li
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Correspondence to Xiaohua Fan or Jinbao Li.

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Lijun Cao, Yun Zou and Jiali Zhu have contributed equally to this article.

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Cao, L., Zou, Y., Zhu, J. et al. Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates concanavalin A-induced hepatitis in mice through inhibition of cytokine secretion and lymphocyte infiltration. Mol Cell Biochem 380, 203–210 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-013-1674-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-013-1674-y

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