Effect of ginseng polysaccharide on TNF-α and IFN-γ produced by enteric mucosal lymphocytes in collagen induced arthritic rats

To investigate the effects of ginseng polysaccharide on T-lymphocytes of enteric mucosal lymphocytes in rats with collagen induced arthritis (CIA). The peyer’s patche lymphocyte (PPL), intraepithelial lymphocyte (IEL) and lamina propria lymphocyte (LPL) of SD rats were isolated. The PPL, IEL and LPL were checked with flow cytometry and these lymphocytes were co-cultured with ginseng polysaccharide separately at different dosages. ELISA measured the expression levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in supernatants. The results showed thatginseng polysaccharide could increased the protein expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the supernatant of PPL on normal rats, and it could lower the protein expression of TNF-α while increase the IFN-γ protein level in the supernatant of PPL on CIA rats. Ginseng polysaccharide could lower the protein levels both TNF-α and IFN-γ in the supernatant of LPL on normal rats. And it could lower the protein levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ in the supernatant of both IEL and LPL on CIA rats. Ginseng polysaccharide could decrease the expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ, regulate the function of Lymphocytes in enteric mucosal immune system in CIA rats, which indicate that Ginseng polysaccharide could be used in the treatment of autoimmune disease.