title: Inhibitory effect of Platycodon grandiflorum on T(H)1 and T(H)2 immune responses in a murine model of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platycodon grandiflorum is a traditional Asian medicine that is used to treat pulmonary and respiratory allergic disorders.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to investigate the effects of P grandiflorum in vivo in an animal model of atopic dermatitis (AD), with particular emphasis on its effects on T(H)1 and T(H)2 immune responses.
  
  
  METHODS
  we established a model of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. After oral administration of P grandiflorum, we measured cytokine and immunoglobulin profiles along with histologic examination of skin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  P grandiflorum was nontoxic in a 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced model of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice. AD symptoms in skin lesions improved after oral administration of P grandiflorum. IgE secretion was significantly downregulated in P grandiflorum-treated animals, accompanied by decreased levels of interleukin (IL) 4 and IgG1 and increased serum levels of IL-12p40 and IgG2a. In isolated splenocytes, the production of the T(H)1 cytokines IL-12p40 and interferon-γ was upregulated by P grandiflorum, whereas the levels of the T(H)2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 were downregulated in a mouse model of AD-like skin lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  these results suggest that P grandiflorum inhibits the development of AD-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice by suppressing the T(H)2 cell response and increasing the T(H)1 cell responses. Our results indicate that P grandiflorum is safe and effective as a natural herbal medicine for the treatment of AD-like skin lesions.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Atopy and Immunity, CombiMed Company Ltd, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yun-Gyung
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Hur
authors.forename: Wan-Gi
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byoung-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyoo-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jeong-Jin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyunsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bae
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D031238:Platycodon; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene