Skullcapflavone II attenuates ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis through the blocking of Th2 cytokine production and mast cell histamine release.

Allergic rhinitis is a common heterogeneous chronic upper airway disorder and is an IgE-mediated inflammation characterized by one or more nasal symptoms such as sneezing, itching, nasal discharge, rhinorrhea, post nasal drainage and nasal blockage. In the present study, the effects of skullcapflavone II (SCFII) on upper airway inflammation, Th2 cytokines, and NF-κB signaling in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis (AR) murine model in vivo were investigated. OVA-induced AR mice increased nasal symptoms, eosinophils and mast cells infiltration into nasal cavity, OVA-specific IgE/IgG1 and histamine in serum, Th2 cytokines including IL-13 and GATA3, and NF-κB signaling in NALF and lung homogenate. Interestingly, treatment of SCFII reduced the levels of OVA-specific IgE/IgG1 and histamine in serum, of Th2 cytokines and of NF-κB signaling in the NALF and the lung homogenate, and histopathological changes in the nasal tissue and the lung. Also, dexamethasone suppressed such increases. The results of this study suggested that SCFII may ameliorate allergic inflammation of upper airway in AR mice model by blocking the Th2 cytokine production, the NF-κB signal pathway and the mast cell histamine release. Taken together, we suggest that SCFII may be used as a therapeutic agent for patients with Th2-mediated or mast cell-mediated allergic diseases.

Bui TT ，Piao CH ，Song CH ，Chai OH ... -  《-》

Saikosaponin A ameliorates nasal inflammation by suppressing IL-6/ROR-γt/STAT3/IL-17/NF-κB pathway in OVA-induced allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a type I hypersensitivity immune response and is a common chronic allergic respiratory disorder characterized by one or more nasal symptoms. Despite many studies on AR therapy, the drugs of treatment for AR remain limited in effect. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of saikosaponin A (SSA) on nasal inflammation, T helper (Th)2 and Th17 cytokines, retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor (ROR)-γt, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signalings in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mice model. OVA-induced AR mice exhibited increase in nasal symptoms, histological alteration, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E/IgG1, ROR-γt, STAT3 and NF-κB signalings. However, the administration of SSA significantly decreased allergic symptoms including nasal rubbing and sneezing. Additionally, histological alterations such as mucosa layer thickness, goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophils and mast cell infiltration in nasal tissues dramatically improved by treatment with SSA. Also, SSA treatment decreased the levels of OVA-specific IgE/IgG1 in serum and the levels of Th2 and Th17 cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-17 in nasal lavage fluid (NALF). Moreover, SSA inhibited the activation of transcription factor ROR-γt, STAT3 and phosphorylated STAT3 in both NALF and lung. Futher, SSA could also significantly inhibit the expressions of NF-κB p65 and phosphorylated NF-κB p65 in NALF and lung. These present results suggested that SSA may attenuate OVA-induced allergic rhinitis through regulating the expression of IL-6/ROR-γt/STAT3/IL-17/NF-κB signaling. The results indicate that SSA may be used as a therapeutic candidate for allergic rhinitis disease.

Piao CH ，Song CH ，Lee EJ ，Chai OH ... -  《-》

Ethanol extract of Dryopteris crassirhizoma alleviates allergic inflammation via inhibition of Th2 response and mast cell activation in a murine model of allergic rhinitis.

Dryopteris crassirhizoma (DC) is used as a traditional herbal remedy to treat various diseases, the tapeworm infection, common cold, and cancer in Korea, Japan, and China. DC also has the antioxidant anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. However, the anti-allergic inflammatory effect of DC and some of its mechanisms in allergic rhinitis model are unknown well. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-allergic inflammatory effect of DC on the allergic rhinitis model, mast cell activation and histamine release. Allergic rhinitis was induced in BALB/c mice by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). Different concentration of DC and dexamethasone was administrated by oral gavage on 1 h before the OVA challenge. Mice of the control group were treated with saline only. Then mice were evaluated for the presence of nasal mucosa inflammation, the production of allergen-specific cytokine response and the histology of nasal mucosa. DC significantly ameliorated the nasal symptoms and the inflammation of nasal mucosa. DC also reduced the infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells in these tissues and the release of histamine in blood. Meanwhile, DC evidently inhibited the overproduction of Th2 cytokines and increased the Th1 and Treg cytokines in nasal lavage fluid by OVA. DC also reduced the levels of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1 and IgG2a in blood. This study suggests that DC has a significant anti-allergic inflammatory effect in the nasal cavity. DC may have the therapeutic effect of allergic rhinitis.

Piao CH ，Kim TG ，Bui TT ，Song CH ，Shin DU ，Eom JE ，Lee SY ，Shin HS ，Chai OH ... -  《-》

Gallic acid alleviates nasal inflammation via activation of Th1 and inhibition of Th2 and Th17 in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an allergic nasal disease characterized by nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching. Type 1 helper T cells (Th1)/type 2 helper T cells (Th2) imbalance has been identified as an important immunological mechanism of AR. In addition, up-regulation of type 17 helper T cells (Th17) also increase the risk of developing AR. Gallic acid (3, 4, 5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, GA), a polyphenol natural product, is obtained from various herbs, red wine, and green tea. It is known to have diverse biological effects such as anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial and anti-cancer. In the present study, the effect of GA on airway inflammation and expression of Th1, Th2 and Th17 cytokines in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mouse model were investigated. GA alleviated the nasal allergic symptoms, reduced the thickness of nasal mucosa, attenuated goblet cell hyperplasia and eosinophil cell infiltration in the nasal mucosa, decreased the levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-17 in nasal lavage fluid (NALF), and diminished the levels of OVA-specific IgE, OVA-specific IgG1 and OVA-specific IgG2a in serum. However, GA increased the expression of interferon-gamma and IL-12 in NALF. Taken together, it suggests that GA may be used as a therapeutic agent for AR.

Fan Y ，Piao CH ，Hyeon E ，Jung SY ，Eom JE ，Shin HS ，Song CH ，Chai OH ... -  《-》

Inhibitory effect of baicalin on allergic response in ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis guinea pigs and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human mast cells.

Zhou YJ ，Wang H ，Sui HH ，Li L ，Zhou CL ，Huang JJ ... -  《-》