title: Areca-nut extract modulates antigen-specific immunity and augments inflammation in ovalbumin-sensitized mice.
abstract: Areca-nut chewing has been linked to oral cancer and many other diseases, in which immune deterioration and tissue inflammation are plausibly involved. Recent studies reported that areca-nut extract (ANE) affected the functionality of lymphocytes and neutrophils in vitro. In the present study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of ANE in vivo. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice were daily administered with ANE (5-50 mg/kg) for 10 doses by intraperitoneal injection from days 1 to 5 and from 8 to 12. The mice were systemically sensitized with OVA on day 3, and their footpads were challenged with OVA to induce delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) reactions on day 13. The serum level of OVA-specific IgM and IgG(1) was significantly attenuated by 5 and 25 mg/kg of ANE, whereas OVA-specific IgG(2a) was markedly enhanced by 50 mg/kg of ANE. The production of interferon (IFN)-γ by splenocytes reexposed to OVA in culture was markedly augmented by ANE (25 and 50 mg/kg). In addition, ANE (25 and 50 mg/kg) demonstrated an enhancing effect on DTH reactions, including the tissue swelling, the infiltration of CD3(+) and F4/80(+) cells, and the expression of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the footpads challenged with OVA. The phagocytic activity and TNF-α production by the splenic CD11b(+) cells were also enhanced in ANE-treated groups. Taken together, these results demonstrated that ANE modulated antigen-specific immune responses and promoted inflammatory reactions in vivo, which may contribute to immune deregulation associated with areca-related diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department and Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hung-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shiaw-Pyng
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wey
authors.forename: Tong-Rong
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D001114:Areca / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009754:Nuts / Q000276:immunology*; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011897:Random Allocation; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D000939:Epitopes; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010047:Ovalbumin