Ginsenoside metabolite compound K exerts anti-inflammatory effect via suppressing T cell activation

Ginsenoside metabolite compound K (CK) is a metabolite of ginsenoside, and belongs to dammarane-type triterpene saponins according to its structure. It has been reported that CK exerts anti-inflammatory activity. Our previous studies showed that CK alleviated adjuvant-induced arthritis (AA) and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) via suppressing T cell activation. Our recent study showed that the inhibitory effect of CK on T cell activation was due to suppressing CCL21-CCR7-mediated migration of dendritic cells (DCs) and signals between T cells and DCs. In this brief review, we summarize recent studies on the anti-inflammatory effect of CK and highlight recent advances in our understanding of how CK contributes to the anti-inflammatory effect via suppressing T cell activation in autoimmune conditions. Elucidating the possible mechanism of CK responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect may provide a rationale for development of CK as new therapeutic agents in treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune disease.