Naringenin chalcone suppresses allergic asthma by inhibiting the type-2 function of CD4 T cells.
BACKGROUND
Some polyphenols possess anti-allergic activities. Naringenin chalcone is one of the polyphenols that is present in the skin of red tomatoes. In this study, we investigated the effect of naringenin chalcone in allergic responses in vivo using an experimental mouse model system of allergic asthma.


METHODS
Allergic airway inflammation was induced in mice by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin. Naringenin chalcone was orally administrated every day during the course of the experiment. Airway hyperreactivity, the eosinophilic infiltration in the bronchioalveolar lavage fluid and Th2 cytokine production from splenic CD4 T cells were assessed.


RESULTS
Eosinophilic airway inflammation, airway hyperreactivity and Th2 cytokine production from CD4 T cells were significantly suppressed in mice that were treated with naringenin chalcone. Hyperproduction of mucus was slightly reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that naringenin chalcone suppresses asthmatic symptoms by inhibiting Th2 cytokine production from CD4 T cells. Thus, naringenin chalcone may be a useful supplement for the suppression of allergic symptoms in humans.
Iwamura
Chiaki
C
Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Shinoda
Kenta
K
Yoshimura
Mineka
M
Watanabe
Yukiko
Y
Obata
Akio
A
Nakayama
Toshinori
T
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D047188:Chalcones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D018551:Solanum lycopersicum / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D047188:Chalcones; D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins; C027329:naringenin chalcone; D010047:Ovalbumin