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5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) is one of the most important products of maillard reaction. This study sought to elucidate the immunomodulatory effect of 5-HMF by evaluating IFN-γ and IL-4 production in BALB/c mice sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA). Four groups of BALB/c mice (n = 5 for each group) including control, vehicle and two 5-HMF (188 and 750 mg/kg bw) treatment groups were studied. Interleukin-4(IL-4) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels were measured in culture supernatants of spleen cells using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It was found that the IL-4 level was significantly suppressed in 5-HMF treatment groups compared with the vehicle group (P < .05). Moreover, the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio was significantly increased in a dose-independent manner compared with the vehicle group (P < .05). Oral administration of 5-HMF inhibited IL-4 but not IFN-γ production by splenocytes of mice immunized with OVA. These changes may reflect that 5-HMF could be a novel therapeutic approach for prevention of (Th2) cytokine-dominant disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease characterized by extracellular matrix deposition and inflammation. Topical vitamin D analogs have been reported as effective treatments for scleroderma. We previously reported that a matricellular protein, periostin (POSTN), contributes to pathogenesis of scleroderma as POSTN knockout mice were resistant to bleomycin (BLM)-induced scleroderma. We investigated whether a vitamin D analog affects the expression of POSTN in dermal fibroblasts and in a BLM-induced scleroderma model. The vitamin D analog, maxacalcitol (22-oxacalcitriol [OCT]), was applied to dermal fibroblasts and POSTN expression was measured. The effect of OCT on Th2 cytokine- and TGFβ-induced POTSN and Collagen 1 α 1 (Col1A1) expression was also assessed. In vivo, OCT was administered to BLM-induced scleroderma model and outcomes were determined by dermal thickness, collagen density and POSTN expression. Treatment with OCT significantly decreased POSTN expression in dermal fibroblasts. Th2 cytokine- and TGFβ-induced expression of POSTN and Col1A1 was also suppressed by OCT. In vivo, OCT administration decreased the density of collagen bundles and POSTN expression in a BLM-induced scleroderma model. In addition to the previously reported immunosuppressive effect, the vitamin D analog OCT might be effective to treat scleroderma, in part through inhibition of Th2 cytokine- and TGFβ-induced POSTN expression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]