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Cicadae Periostracum (CP), derived from the slough of Cryptotympana pustulata, has been used as traditional medicine in Korea and China because of its diaphoretic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antianaphylactic activities. The major bioactive compounds include oleic acid (OA), palmitic acid, and linoleic acid. However, the precise therapeutic mechanisms underlying its action in asthma remain unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the antiasthmatic effects of CP in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthmatic mouse model. CP and OA inhibited the inflammatory cell infiltration, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and production of interleukin (IL)7 and Th2 cytokines (IL-5) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and OVA-specific imunoglobin E (IgE) in the serum. The gene expression of IL-5, IL-13, CCR3, MUC5AC, and COX-2 was attenuated in lung tissues. CP and OA might inhibit the nuclear translocation of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) and retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt) via the upregulation of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), thereby preventing the activation of GATA-3 and RORγt. In the in vitro experiment, a similar result was observed for Th2 and GATA-3. These results suggest that CP has the potential for the treatment of asthma via the inhibition of the GATA-3/Th2 and IL-17/RORγt signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holotrichia diomphalia larvae (HD), a natural product from an insect resource, possesses many pharmacological properties, including anticoagulant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic activity. The major bioactive ingredients include oleic acid, palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, linoleic acid, proline, and glutamic acid. Although HD is associated with immunoregulatory activities in allergic diseases, the therapeutic mechanisms of the action of HD in allergic diseases have not been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-asthmatic potential of HD in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory potential of HD was examined to identify a plausible mechanism of action of HD in vitro. HD strongly reduced goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophil infiltration, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), inflammation, and the expression of Th2 cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The expression of IL-5, IL-4, eotaxin-2, lysyl oxidase-like 2 (loxl2), and GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3) was attenuated in the lungs. In an in vitro assay, HD exerted immunomodulatory effects through the suppression of Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13), IL-17, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production through downregulation of GATA-3 expression in EL-4 T cells. These findings suggest that the anti-asthmatic activity of HD may occur through the suppression of Th2 cytokines and total Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production by inhibition of the GATA-3 transcription pathway. Our results suggest that HD may be a potential alternative therapy, or a novel therapeutic traditional medicine, for the treatment of allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

18β-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18Gly), the major bioactive component of Glycyrrhizae Radix, possesses anti-ulcerative, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological properties. Although 18Gly is associated with immunoregulatory functions of allergic diseases, the pathophysiological mechanisms of 18Gly action in allergic inflammatory lung disease have not been examined. Moreover, there are no in vivo studies on the anti-asthmatic effects of 18Gly in allergic asthma. We investigated its effect and mechanism of action in airway inflammation in a BALB/c mouse model of allergic asthma. Interestingly, 18Gly strongly suppressed airway hyperresponsiveness, accumulation of inflammatory cells, and levels of T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines (interleukin (IL)-5 and IL-13) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It also attenuated lung IL-5, IL-13, and IL-4 expression, but it upregulated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) mRNA expression in lungs. Moreover, it exerted immunomodulatory effects by suppressing Th2 cytokines (IL-5, IL-13) production through upregulation of forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), and downregulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT6), GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA-3), and retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γ t (RORγt) expression. These results suggest that the anti-asthmatic activity of 18Gly may occur by the suppression of IL-5, IL-13, and OVA-specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) production through inhibition of the RORγt, STAT6, GATA-3 pathways and upregulation of the Foxp3 transcription pathway. Also, 18Gly treatment was protective against the oxidative stress by inducing significant decrease of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in MH-S alveolar macrophage cells. Our results suggest that 18Gly can improve allergic asthma and can be a novel therapeutic component for the treatment of allergic asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]