title: Possible involvement of suppression of Th2 differentiation in the anti-allergic effect of Sho-seiryu-to in mice.
abstract: The clinical effectiveness of the Kampo medicine Sho-seiryu-to (SST) has recently been demonstrated in a double-blind randomized study of allergic asthma and rhinitis. We investigated the effect of SST on a type 1 allergic model in mice. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced sneezing and the total and OVA-specific IgE levels were significantly suppressed with SST at 1.0 g/kg, but that of OVA-specific IgG(2a) was not. In the splenocytes isolated from SST-administered mice, OVA-induced interleukin (IL)-4 production decreased while interferon (IFN)-gamma production was not. The co-culture experiments using purified CD4(+)T cells and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) suggested that SST influenced both cell types. Flow-cytometric analysis showed that SST suppressed the number of IL-4 producing CD4(+)T cells but not the number of IFN-gamma producing CD4(+)T cells. The CD86(+) major histocompatibility complex class II(+) (MHC II)(+) cells and CD28(+)CD4(+)T cells were decreased by SST treatment, while CD80(+)MHC II(+) cells, CD40(+)MHC II(+) cells and CD154(+)CD4(+)T cells showed no change. These data suggested that SST may suppress IL-4 production in CD4(+)T cells via influencing CD28-CD86 interaction. In addition to the previously reported inhibitory activity on histamine release, suppression of Th2 differentiation at the stage of APC-CD4(+)T cell interaction may be involved in the anti-allergic effects of SST.
authors.affiliation: Kampo & Pharmacognosy Laboratory R & D Division, Tsumura & Co., Inashiki-gun, Ibaraki, Japan. ikeda_yoshiki@mail.tsumura.co.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ishige
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C090832:sho-seiryu-to; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D010047:Ovalbumin