Oral administration of Astragalus membranaceus inhibits the development of DNFB-induced dermatitis in NC/Nga mice.
Epicutaneously administered chemical antigens like 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB), evoke an atopic dermatitis (AD)-like dermatitis reaction in NC/Nga mice under specific pathogen free (SPF) conditions. Astragalus membranaceus (AM), is a popular herbal medicine used to treat allergic diseases in East Asia. In the present study, we examined whether AM suppress AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice treated with DNFB under SPF conditions. Oral administration of AM to DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was found to inhibit ear thickness increases and the skin lesions induced by DNFB. Moreover, IFN-gamma production by CD4(+) T cells from the lymph nodes of DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was significantly inhibited by AM treatment, although levels of IL-4 and total IgE in serum were not. Study findings suggest that AM may suppress the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IFN-gamma production.
Department of Microbiology (BK21), College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, #1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Su-Jin
SJ
Lee
Seung-Geun
SG
Oh
Sang-Wan
SW
Seo
Hyun-Jong
HJ
Ahn
Dongho
D
Geum
Jeong-Je
JJ
Cho
Cheung-Seog
CS
Park
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004431:Ear, External / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011239:Prednisolone; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene