Oral administration of Uncariae rhynchophylla inhibits the development of DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions via IFN-gamma down-regulation in NC/Nga mice.
BACKGROUND
Uncariae rhynchophylla (UR) is an herb which has blood pressure lowering and anti-inflammatory effects and has been prescribed traditionally to treat stroke and vascular dementia.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we examined whether UR suppress Atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice treated with 2, 4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) under SPF conditions.


METHODS
The effect of UR in DNFB- treated NC/Nga mice was determined by measuring the skin symptom severity, levels of serum IgE, and of the amounts of IL-4 and IFN-gamma secreted by activated T cells in draining lymph nodes.


RESULTS
Oral administration of UR to DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was found to inhibit ear thickness increases and the skin lesions induced by DNFB. IFN-gamma production by CD4+ T cells from the lymph nodes of DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice was significantly inhibited by UR treatment, although levels of IL-4 and total IgE in serum were not.


CONCLUSIONS
UR may suppress the development of AD-like dermatitis in DNFB-treated NC/Nga mice by reducing IFN-gamma production.
Kim
Dong-Young
DY
Department of Microbiology (BK21), College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Jung
Jung-A
JA
Kim
Tae-Ho
TH
Seo
Sang-Wan
SW
Jung
Sung-Ki
SK
Park
Cheung-Seog
CS
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018517:Plant Roots; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D032070:Uncaria
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D011239:Prednisolone; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene