Ginsenoside Rg1 helps mice resist to disseminated candidiasis by Th1 type differentiation of CD4+ T cell

Ginsenosides, the most important component isolated from Panax ginseng, exhibits a variety of biological activities. Particularly, ginsenoside Rg1 is known to have various immune-modulating activities such as increase of immune activity of T helper (Th) cells. In this present work, we investigated the effect of the Rg1 on Candida albicans growth. Results showed that direct interaction of the Rgl to C albicans yeast cells resulted in no growth inhibition as tested by agar diffusion susceptibility method. Reversely, mice given the Rgl intraperitoneally (i.p.) before intravenous (i.v.) challenge with live C albicans yeast cells protected the mice to experimental disseminated candidiasis. By kidney candidal CFU (colony forming unit) determination, the disease severity of the Rgl-treated mice was confirmed far less than Rgl-untreated control mice. The protection was transferable by CD4+ T cells (RGCD4T) isolated from Rg1-treated mice. ELISA analysis revealed that there were cytokine inductions of IFN-Y, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10 from the RGCD4T, demonstrating the Th1-lineage development of predominant IFNy and IL-2 production. Anti-mouse IFN-gamma antibody treatment of Rgl-treated mice abolished the protection to disseminated disease. Our studies show that ginsenoside Rgl helps the host resists disseminated candidiasis by the CD4+ T cell-mediated immune response led from a Thldominant cytokine response. (c) 2006 Elsevier BN. All rights reserved.