Ginseng Protects Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Modulating Multiple Immune Cells and Inhibiting Viral Replication
by
Jong Seok Lee 1,2,†, Yu-Na Lee 1,†, Young-Tae Lee 1, Hye Suk Hwang 1, Ki-Hye Kim 1, Eun-Ju Ko 1, Min-Chul Kim 1,3 and Sang-Moo Kang 1,*
Jong Seok Lee 1,2,†, Yu-Na Lee 1,†, Young-Tae Lee 1, Hye Suk Hwang 1, Ki-Hye Kim 1, Eun-Ju Ko 1, Min-Chul Kim 1,3 and Sang-Moo Kang 1,*
1
Center for Inflammation, Immunity & Infection, Institute for Biomedical Sciences, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA
2
National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 404–708, Korea
3
Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, 175 Anyangro, Anyangsi, Gyeonggido 430–757, Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Nutrients 2015, 7(2), 1021-1036; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu7021021
Received: 1 January 2015 / Revised: 16 January 2015 / Accepted: 26 January 2015 / Published: 4 February 2015
Ginseng has been used in humans for thousands of years but its effects on viral infection have not been well understood. We investigated the effects of red ginseng extract (RGE) on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection using in vitro cell culture and in vivo mouse models. RGE partially protected human epithelial (HEp2) cells from RSV-induced cell death and viral replication. In addition, RGE significantly inhibited the production of RSV-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α) in murine dendritic and macrophage-like cells. More importantly, RGE intranasal pre-treatment prevented loss of mouse body weight after RSV infection. RGE treatment improved lung viral clearance and enhanced the production of interferon (IFN-γ) in bronchoalveolar lavage cells upon RSV infection of mice. Analysis of cellular phenotypes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids showed that RGE treatment increased the populations of CD8+ T cells and CD11c+ dendritic cells upon RSV infection of mice. Taken together, these results provide evidence that ginseng has protective effects against RSV infection through multiple mechanisms, which include improving cell survival, partial inhibition of viral replication and modulation of cytokine production and types of immune cells migrating into the lung.
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Keywords:
ginseng; respiratory syncytial virus; antiviral activity; cytokines; Immuno-modulatory effects
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MDPI and ACS Style
Lee, J.S.; Lee, Y.-N.; Lee, Y.-T.; Hwang, H.S.; Kim, K.-H.; Ko, E.-J.; Kim, M.-C.; Kang, S.-M. Ginseng Protects Against Respiratory Syncytial Virus by Modulating Multiple Immune Cells and Inhibiting Viral Replication. Nutrients 2015, 7, 1021-1036.
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