[Molecular biological study of aloe vera in the treatment of experimental allergic rhinitis in rat].
OBJECTIVE
To study the therapeutic mechanism of aloe vera in allergic rhinitis (AR).


METHODS
Ovalbumin sensitized white rat used as animal models of AR were treated intranasally with aloe vera. At the end of treatment, the differences in the behavior science were observed; the changes in the nasal mucosa were studied by pathological; IL-2, IL-4 mRNA in the nasal mucosa and spleen were used to do reverse transcriptive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The behavior science score of positive controls (8.42 +/- 1.06) was higher than the experimental group (2.02 +/- 0.42) and normal controls (0); inflammatory reactions in the experimental group nasal mucosa were remarkably relieved; the mean expression level of IL-2 mRNA in the experimental group was higher significantly than positive controls (P < 0.01); but that of IL-4 mRNA was lower evidently (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The aloe vera are suggested to be involved in the differentiation of CD4+ lymphocytes, by means of regulating the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. The results suggests that local aloe vera treatment was a selective and non-traumatic method to treat the allergic rhinitis.
Yu
Hongwei
H
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun 130031.
Dong
Zhen
Z
Yang
Zhanquan
Z
D000504:Aloe; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D028321:Plant Preparations; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4