title: Effects of astragaloside IV on eosinophil activation induced by house             dust mite allergen.
abstract: Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been noted for its reduction of eosinophilic airway inflammation in a murine model of chronic asthma. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in this anti-inflammatory phenomenon, the effect of AS-IV on human blood eosinophils was studied in vitro. Eosinophils were isolated from the blood of patients with mild atopic asthma, preincubated with AS-IV for 1 h and stimulated in the presence or absence of the house dust mite allergen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p) 1 for 4 h. The survival of the eosinophils at 48 h was investigated using trypan blue and the surface expression of CC chemokine receptor 3 (CCR3) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) by the eosinophils was analyzed using flow cytometry. The secretion of cytokines in the supernatants and the chemotaxis of the eosinophils were measured by ELISA and the transwell system, respectively. Der p 1 was found to prolong the survival of the eosinophils. Similarly, the expression of CCR3 and ICAM-1, secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-5, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and the granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and transmigration of the eosinophils were increased in the presence of Der p 1. However, these inductive effects on the eosinophils were significantly inhibited by AS-IV (50 µg/ml). These findings suggest that AS-IV modulates eosinophil activation and trafficking in response to Der p 1 and may therefore be a useful therapeutic option in eosinophilic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, The 454th Hospital of Chinese PLA, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210002, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yuwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Jiankang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D054397:Receptors, CCR3 / Q000378:metabolism; D012503:Saponins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D057705:Transendothelial and Transepithelial Migration / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014315:Triterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D054397:Receptors, CCR3; D012503:Saponins; D014315:Triterpenes; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; C052064:astragaloside A; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1