Effect of Korean Red Ginseng and Rg3 on Asian Sand Dust-Induced MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC8 Expression in Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Korean Red ginseng (KRG), commonly used in traditional medicine, has anti-inflammatory, anti- oxidative, and anti-tumorigenic properties. Asian sand dust (ASD) is known to aggravate upper and lower airway inflammatory responses. BEAS-2B cells were exposed to ASD with or without KRG or ginsenoside Rg3. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), MUC5B, and MUC8 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined using quantitative RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), activator protein 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinase expression and activity were determined using western blot analysis. ASD induced MUC5AC, MUC5B, and MUC8 mRNA and protein expression in BEAS-2B cells, which was significantly inhibited by KRG and Rg3. Although ASD-induced mucin expression was associated with NF-κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, KRG and Rg3 significantly suppressed only ASD-induced NF-κB expression and activity. KRG and Rg3 inhibited ASD-induced mucin gene expression and protein production from bronchial epithelial cells. These results suggest that KRG and Rg3 have potential for treating mucus-producing airway inflammatory diseases.

Saponin attenuates diesel exhaust particle (DEP)-induced MUC5AC expression and pro-inflammatory cytokine upregulation via TLR4/TRIF/NF-κB signaling pathway in airway epithelium and ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice

“…Because overproduced mucin may precipitate mucus accumulation, DEP was issued as a precipitating factor to exacerbate chronic airway inflammation. In the same manner that KRG and ginsenoside Rg3 suppressed mucin production induced by Asian sand dust through NF-κB inhibition in bronchial epithelial cells [ 17 ], we adopted DEP as a ligand of TLR4 and revealed the inhibitory properties of KRG and its ginsenosides on MUC5AC expression [ 18 ]. Downregulation of DEP-induced MUC5AC mRNA and protein expression in human NCl–H292 cells by KRG or saponin indicated their potentials for treating mucus-producing respiratory diseases.…”

Pharmacological properties, molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential of ginsenoside Rg3 as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent

“…In an airway inflammation model stimulated by Asian sand dust, upregulation of mucin (MUC)5AC and MUC5B stimulates mucus secretion; significantly, mucus cross-linking exacerbates pulmonary disease ( Dunican et al, 2021 ). Rg3 decreased mucin gene expression through the NF-κB pathway ( Shin et al, 2021 ). Regarding asthma, Rg3 inhibited p65 phosphorylation, and COX-2 inhibited the secretion of chemokine ligands, ILs, and TNF-α.…”

Nutraceuticals in Immune Function

“…Two studies investigated the role of different nutraceuticals in suppressing airway inflammation. In the first study, Shin et al [ 15 ] studied how Korean red ginseng (KRG) could prevent airway inflammation triggered by Asian sand dust (ASD). KRG and its active compound ginsenoside Rg3 significantly suppressed ASD-induced NF- B expression and activity.…”