title: Mastic alleviates allergic inflammation in asthmatic model mice by inhibiting recruitment of eosinophils.
abstract: The pathogenesis of allergic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation, eosinophilia, and airway hyperresponsiveness. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of mastic, obtained from the stem and the leaves of Pistacia lentiscus trees, on allergic asthma. In an ovalbumin-induced mouse asthma model, mastic significantly inhibited eosinophilia, while reducing airway hyperresponsiveness and suppressing the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL-5 and IL-13) as well as chemokines (eotaxin, eotaxin2, and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Moreover, mastic potently inhibited eotaxin-induced eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro without influencing eotaxin receptor, chemokine receptor 3, expression. These results suggest that mastic may contribute to the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
authors.affiliation: 639 Zhizaoju Road, Respiratory Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai 200011, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Ang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xianqiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018893:Bronchoalveolar Lavage; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000187:drug effects; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D027927:Pistacia / Q000737:chemistry*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry*; D011657:Pulmonary Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012116:Resins, Plant / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D000069997:Mastic Resin; D012116:Resins, Plant