title: Effects of astilbic acid on airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation in a mouse model of allergic asthma.
abstract: Bronchial asthma is characterized by chronic lung inflammation, airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and airway remodeling. Astilbic acid, extracted from the medicinal herb Astilbe chinensis, is used as a headache remedy in traditional medicine and has anti-pyretic and analgesic effects. However, the effect of astilbic acid on asthma remains to be established. In the present study, we therefore examined the effect of astilbic acid in a mouse model in which asthma was established by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). Astilbic acid inhibited OVA-induced AHR to inhaled methacholine and significantly suppressed the levels of T-helper 2-type cytokines (including IL [interleukin]-4, IL-5, and IL-13) and inflammatory cells (including eosinophils) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Histochemical analysis revealed reduced goblet cell hyperplasia and mucus production, as well as attenuated eosinophil-rich leukocyte infiltration, in the astilbic acid-treated group, compared with OVA-challenged mice. Moreover, the compound significantly inhibited synthesis of IL-4-, IL-5-, IL-13-, IL-17-, and eotaxin-encoding mRNA following asthma induction in lung tissue, in addition to suppressing the immunoglobulin E (IgE) response to asthma in both BAL fluid and serum. Our results indicate that astilbic acid has great potential as a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Immune Modulator Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yang-chung ri, O-chang uep, 363-883, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yuk
authors.forename: Mee-Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ok-Kyoung
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Xing-Fu
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Ha-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Sei-Ryang
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hyeong-Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Kyung-Seop
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009828:Oleanolic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D031995:Saxifragaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: C494851:3beta,6beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-27-oic acid; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D009828:Oleanolic Acid