Abstract
Background: Ginsenoside Rg-1 (Rg-1), a triterpenoid saponin abundantly present in Panax ginseng, is a type of naturally occurring steroid with known anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we sought to confirm the effects and mechanisms of action of Rg-1 on store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) in human vascular endothelial cell line (EA) and murine aortic vascular smooth muscle cell line (MOVAS) cells exposed to high glucose. Methods: Cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in EA and MOVAS cells were measured by monitoring fluorescence of the ratiometric Ca2+-indicator, Fura-2 AM. Results: High glucose significantly increased Ca2+ influx by abnormally activating SOCE in EA and MOVAS cells. Notably, this high glucose-induced increase in SOCE was restored to normal levels in EA and MOVAS cells by Rg-1. Moreover, Rg-1 induced reductions in SOCE in cells exposed to high glucose were significantly inhibited by the plasma membrane Ca2+ ATPase (PMCA) blocker lanthanum, the Na+/K+-ATPase blocker ouabain, or the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) blockers Ni2+ and KB-R7943. These observations suggest that the mechanism of action of Rg-1 inhibition of SOCE involves PMCA and Na+/K+-ATPase, and an increase in Ca2+ efflux via NCXs in both EA and MOVAS cells exposed to high glucose. Conclusions: These findings indicate that Rg-1 may protect vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells from Ca2+ increases following exposure to hyperglycemic conditions.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 166 |
Journal | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2022 Dec |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This work was supported by a grant from the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2021R1A2C2004118, 2020R1I1A1A0107450513) and the Institute of Nursing Research, Korea University Grant. This manuscript is a revision of SMH’s master’s thesis from Korea University.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s).
Keywords
- Ginsenoside Rg-1
- High glucose
- Store-operated Ca entry
- Vascular endothelial cells
- Vascular smooth muscle cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Complementary and alternative medicine