title: Immunoregulatory effects of glycyrrhizic acid exerts anti-asthmatic effects via modulation of Th1/Th2 cytokines and enhancement of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in ovalbumin-sensitized mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glycyrrhizic acid (GA) is the main bioactive ingredient of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and has been found to be associated with multiple therapeutic properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated immunoregulatory effects of glycyrrhizic acid on anti-asthmatic effects and underlying mechanisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asthma model was established by ovalbumin-induced. A total of 60 mice were randomly assigned to six experimental groups: control, model, dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) and GA (10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg). Airway resistance (Raw) were measured by the forced oscillation technique, histological studies were evaluated by The hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, Th1/Th2 and Th17 cytokines were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) was evaluated by Flow Cytometry (FCM), the forkhead/winged helix transcription factor (Foxp3) was evaluated by western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study demonstrated that, compared with model group, GA inhibited OVA-induced increases in Raw and eosinophil count; interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13 levels were recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared; increased IFN-γ level in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; histological studies demonstrated that GA substantially inhibited OVA-induced eosinophilia in lung tissue and airway tissue compared with model group. Flow cytometry studies demonstrated that GA substantially enhanced Tregs compared with model group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that GA may effectively ameliorate the progression of asthma and could be used as a therapy for patients with allergic asthma.
authors: Department of Pharmacology of Chinese Materia Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Ma
authors: Zhanqiang
authors: Z
authors: Ma
authors: Xiao-lin
authors: XL
authors: Liao
authors: Jiping
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Fu
authors: Shiping
authors: S
authors: Ma
mesh_terms: D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000276:immunology; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology; D018417:Th1 Cells; D018418:Th2 Cells
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; C508018:Il2ra protein, mouse; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D019695:Glycyrrhizic Acid; D010047:Ovalbumin
keywords: (Dex); (ELISA); (Foxp3); (GA); (HE) staining; (Tregs); Anti-asthmatic; CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells; ELISA; Flow cytometry (FCM); Glycyrrhizic acid; Western blotting; dexamethasone; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; forkhead/winged helix transcription factor; glycyrrhizic acid; hematoxylin and eosin