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Context: Crocin, a diterpenoid glucoside, has multitudinous activities such as anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-oxidation and relaxing smooth muscles. Objective: In this study, the potential of crocin as an anti-asthma agent was investigated in a murine model. Materials and methods: BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged by ovalbumin (OVA) to induce allergic airway inflammation, with crocin administered one hour before every OVA challenge. Airway hyper-reactivity was evaluated by lung function analysis systems. Leukocyte counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured by a hemocytometer and Diff-Quick-stained smears. Lung tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin, Congo red and methylene blue for histopathological inspection. Inflammatory mediators in serum, BALF and lung were measured by ELISA or RT-PCR. Effects of crocin on MAPK signaling pathways were investigated by western blot analysis. Results: Crocin significantly suppressed airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity, reduced levels of BALF interleukin (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13 and tryptase, lung eosinophil peroxidase and serum OVA-specific IgE, and inhibited the expression of lung eotaxin, p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38 in the OVA-challenged mice. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that the suppression of crocin on airway inflammation and hyper-reactivity in a murine model, thus crocin might have a great potential to be a candidate for the treatment of asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Alum is thought to induce inflammation resulting in the release of danger signals such as uric acid (UA) which in turn enhances the immune response to an antigen. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is produced as a byproduct in the purine catabolic pathway that leads to the production of UA. In addition, serum nitric oxide (NO) levels are increased in inflammation. Objective: To further explore the mechanism of action of alum, this study was designed to determine the effects of catalase and 1400W on the number of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) secreting spleen cells in mice given ovalbumin (OVA) with alum. Materials and methods: Groups of BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with alum + OVA, alum, OVA, catalase, or 1400W. Other groups were treated with catalase or 1400W and given alum + OVA. The number of IL-4 and IFN-γ secreting spleen cells were determined at days 4 and 7 postinjection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT). Results: Catalase and 1400W caused a decrease in the number of IL-4 secreting spleen cells induced by alum + OVA. 1400W caused a decline in the IFN-γ secreting spleen cells induced by alum + OVA. Catalase caused an increase in IFN-γ secreting spleen cells. Discussion and conclusion: It appears that H2O2 and NO are needed for alum-induced production of a T-helper 2 cytokine. NO also appears to be needed, whereas H2O2 appeared to inhibit an alum-induced production of a T-helper 1 cytokine. These results might explain why alum is mainly a promoter of a T-helper 2 response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flower of Chrysanthemum boreale has traditionally been used for treatment of various inflammatory disease including atopic dermatitis (AD). However, its action on AD is unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of CB on AD using NC/Nga mice as an AD model. The effect of CB on 1-Chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB) induced NC/Nga mice was evaluated by examining skin symptom severity, itching behavior, ear thickness, levels of serum Immunoglobulin E (IgE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-4 (IL-4), skin histology. The CB significantly reduced the total clinical severity score, itching behavior, ear thickness and the level of serum IgE in AD mouse model. CB not only decreased TNF-α but also IL-4. These results suggest that CB may be a potential therapeutic modality for AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To isolate antipruritic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from kimchi, a traditional Korean food, we investigated the interleukin (IL)-4 production-inhibitory effect in the colon of mice for previously isolated LAB. Orally administered Lactobacillus plantarum PM008 potently inhibited the expression of IgE-switching cytokine, IL-4, and of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-1ββ and TNF-αα, in the colon of mice. Its inhibitory effect was dependent on the dosage and administration period. When PM008 was orally administered to mice, the number of PM008 detected in the intestine and feces by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) methods was dependent on the administration dosage and period. The number of PM008 attached in the intestine was gradually decreased with increasing time after completion of its oral administration. PM008 dose-dependently inhibited the scratching behavior induced by histamine or compound 48/80. PM008 treated at a dose of 1 ×× 1010 CFU for 14 days inhibited the histamine- and compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviors by 32.8% and 48.6%, respectively. This inhibitory effect continued, although reduced, at 7 days after stopping the oral administration of PM008 attached in the intestine. Based on these findings, L. plantarum PM008 may improve pruritus by inhibiting IL-4 expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase inhibitors, also known as statins, are widely used as the drug of choice for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. However, actions beyond that of simply lowering cholesterol levels have been reported. This study aims at evaluating the effect of atorvastatin on antibody interleukin-4 and γ-interferon production in mice immunized with egg albumin. Antibody levels were determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and cytokine transcripts by reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. Results indicated that repeated daily doses of 40 mg/Kg body weight of atorvastatin following immunization suppressed the antibody response in mice to egg albumin. Moreover, a decline in interleukin-4 and γ-interferon transcripts was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mushroom Phellinus linteus (PL) has been shown to have antitumor and immunostimulatory effects. We hypothesized that the hot water extract of PL (WEPL) exerts its significant immunostimulatory effect by inducing production of the Th1-derived cytokine interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes were isolated from the mice fed with 200 mg/kg of WEPL once a day for 4 weeks and then stimulated with the mitogen concanavaline A (Con A). IFN-γ gene and intracellular protein expressions were analyzed by RT-PCR and flow cytometry, respectively. The production of IFN-γ was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. WEPL significantly enhanced the transcription of IFN-γ mRNA. The effect of WEPL on IFN-γ expression was further supported by a concomitant increase in the number of cells with intracellular IFN-γ protein as well as the secretion of IFN-γ. However, WEPL did not modulate either gene expression or protein secretion of interleukin-4, a Th2-associated cytokine, by Con A-stimulated T lymphocytes. Our results demonstrate that one of the potentially beneficial antitumor and immunostimulatory effects of WEPL may be mediated through the enhancement of IFN-γ secretion by T lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]