Experimental Study On The Immunoregulatory Effect Of Ginsenoside Rg1 On Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Objective To explore the immunomodulatory effect of Rg1 on the T lymphocytes in peripheral blood from patients with SLE.Methods Ten adult patients with inactive SLE and ten healthy subjects matched for gender and age(±2 years) were collected. CD3+ T cell from patients and healthy subjects were collected, stimulated with Concanavalin A(Con A), and Rg1 was added on cultures.After 48 hours incubation, cells were harvested. The proliferation of T lymphocytes was determined by CCK-8.The frequency of CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, and CD4+ T cells producing IFN-γ and/or IL-4 was measured by using flow cytometry. Gene expression of Th1/Th2-associated cytokine IFN-γ and IL-4 on CD3+ T cells were determined by real-time RT-PCR. Cell cu Lture supernatant levels of cytokines IFN-γ and IL-4 were assessed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA).Results Rg1 markedly inhibited ConA-induced T lymphocyte proliferation from healthy subjects and patients with SLE, and the inhibition rate of healthy subjects was higher than that of patients with SLE. What’s more, Rg1 decreased the frequency of CD4+ T cells producing IFN-γ, suppressed IFN-γ production and m RNA expression in patients with SLE; Rg1 increased the frequency of CD4+ T cells producing IL-4, enhanced IL-4production and m RNA expression in patients with SLE in vitro, but had little effect on T lymphocyte from healthy subjects.Conclusion Rg1 may improve the immune function of systemic lupus erythematosus patients through regulating T cells activation and Th1/Th2 balance.