title: Potent inhibitory effect of tetrandrine on experimental allergic conjunctivitis in mice.
abstract: This study investigated the effectiveness of tetrandrine (TDR) on experimental allergic conjunctivitis secondary to ragweed pollen. SWR/J mice were divided as follows: group 1, normal controls; group 2, sensitized but untreated; group 3, sensitized, buffered saline (BS)-treated; and group 4, sensitized, TDR-treated. The last three groups were exposed to ragweed through topical contact on the nasal and conjunctival mucosae followed by challenge with the allergen on the conjunctiva. Groups 3 and 4 received doses of BS and TDR, respectively. The allergic conjunctivitis was evaluated by scoring of the clinical signs and histopathology. mRNA gene expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-5 in the conjunctiva was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction techniques. All mice exposed to ragweed developed allergic conjunctivitis clinically and histologically. The conjunctivitis was significantly modulated by intraperitoneal injection of a new anti-inflammatory agent, TDR. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that TDR strikingly reduced the conjunctival eosinophil infiltration and the number of intact and degranulating mast cells. IL-1 beta and Il-5 mRNA gene expression in the conjunctiva of TDR-treated mice was dramatically down-regulated compared with untreated and BS-treated controls. The results indicate that TDR may have potential clinical use in the treatment of conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Rhoads Molecular and Hilles Immunology Laboratories, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Merayo-Lloves
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000235:genetics; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015848:Interleukin-5; C009438:tetrandrine