title: Suppression of allergic reactions by royal jelly in association with the restoration of macrophage function and the improvement of Th1/Th2 cell responses.
abstract: We studied the immunomodulatory effects of royal jelly (RJ), the principal food source of the queen honeybee. In this study, suppression of allergic reactions by RJ was investigated in DNP-KLH immunized mice (DNP-KLH mice). Oral administration of RJ (1 g/kg) to DNP-KLH mice significantly decreased the serum levels of antigen-specific Ig E and significantly inhibited DNP-KLH mediated-histamine release from mast cells, resulting in the suppression of immediate hypersensitivity reactions of ear skin. In DNP-KLH mice, IFN-gamma (Th1 cytokine) production from CD4+ T cells was suppressed and IL-4 (Th2 cytokine) production from CD4+ T cells was increased as compared to normal mice. On the other hand, RJ improved the balance of Th1/Th2 cell responses from Th2-dominant to Th1-dominant. RJ significantly increased GSH levels in macrophages from DNP-KLH mice. In addition, the administration of RJ to DNP-KLH mice increased IL-12 p40 mRNA expression and NO production, and decreased PG E2 production from macrophages as compared to untreated DNP-KLH mice. These results suggested that RJ suppressed antigen-specific Ig E production and histamine release from mast cells in association with the restoration of macrophage function and improvement of Th1/Th2 cell responses in DNP-KLH mice.
authors.affiliation: Central Research Laboratories, Zeria Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., 2512-1 Oshikiri, Kohnan-machi, Ohsato-gun, Saitama 360-0111, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Emori
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nomoto
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006433:Hemocyanins; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000099219:Royal Jelly
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D017931:DNA Primers; D015232:Dinoprostone; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005978:Glutathione; D006433:Hemocyanins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000099219:Royal Jelly; C042158:2,4-dinitrophenyl keyhole limpet hemocyanin