Abstract
BackgroundAtopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by markedly increased levels of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, and T cells. Arctium lappa L. is a traditional medicine in Asia. This study examined whether a butanol extract of A. lappa (ALBE) had previously unreported anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory effects.MethodsThis study examined the effect of ALBE on the release of β-hexosaminidase in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. We also evaluated the ConA-induced expression of IL-4, IL-5, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor (NF)-κB using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA in mouse splenocytes after ALBE treatment.ResultsWe observed significant inhibition of β-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells and suppressed mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 induced by ConA-treated primary murine splenocytes after ALBE treatment. Additionally, ALBE (100 μg/mL) suppressed not only the transcriptional activation of NF-κB, but also the phosphorylation of MAPKs in ConA-treated primary splenocytes.ConclusionsThese results suggest that ALBE inhibits the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 by downregulating MAPKs and NF-κB activation in ConA-treated splenocytes and supports the hypothesis that ALBE may have beneficial effects in the treatment of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis.
Highlights
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by markedly increased levels of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, and T cells
We examined the anti-allergic effects by checking the release of b-hexosaminidase induced by dinitrophenyl (DNP)-bovine serum albumin (BSA) in RBL-2H3 mast cells and expression levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in primary splenocytes after treatment with concanavalin A (ConA), which generates T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines as in an allergic environment
We examined the translocation of nuclear factor (NF)-B and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), which are activated during inflammation, in ConA-treated primary murine splenocytes to validate the anti-inflammatory effects of A. lappa butanolic extract (ALBE)
Summary
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by markedly increased levels of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, and T cells. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by pruritic chronic eczema, elevated serum IgE levels, and massive cellular infiltrates, including eosinophils, mast cells, and lymphocytes [1,2]. A. lappa and its components have these biological activities, no reported study has evaluated the anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory effects of A. lappa root in atopic dermatitis or the molecular mechanisms involved. We examined the butanol extract of A. lappa (ALBE) roots because it significantly inhibited antigen-induced b-hexosaminidase release. We examined the anti-allergic effects by checking the release of b-hexosaminidase induced by dinitrophenyl (DNP)-BSA in RBL-2H3 mast cells and expression levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in primary splenocytes after treatment with concanavalin A (ConA), which generates Th2 cytokines as in an allergic environment. We examined the translocation of NF-B and the phosphorylation of MAPKs, which are activated during inflammation, in ConA-treated primary murine splenocytes to validate the anti-inflammatory effects of ALBE
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