title: Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai upregulates eosinophils and suppresses Th1 and Th17 cells in the small intestine.
abstract: The bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (Ulmaceae) has been used in traditional Korean medicine for chronic inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Here we investigated the frequency and cytokine profile of the major immune cells in the small intestinal lamina propria (SI LP), spleen, and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of mice treated orally with Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai bark water extract (UDE) to address the immunomodulatory role of this herb in intestinal homeostasis. B6 mice were given 5g/kg UDE once daily for 14 days. They were then sacrificed, and cells were isolated from the spleen, MLNs, and SI LP. The proportion of B versus T lymphocytes, CD4(+) versus CD8(+) T lymphocytes, Th1 and Th17 cells, and Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells in the spleen, MLNs, and SI LP were analyzed. The frequency of antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including dendritic cells, macrophages, and eosinophils in the SI LP and the expression of costimulatory molecules on APCs were also evaluated. The numbers and frequencies of Th1 and Th17 cells in the SI LP were significantly reduced in the UDE-treated mice compared with PBS controls. In addition, the proportion of IL-4-producing eosinophils in the SI LP was significantly elevated in the UDE-treated mice compared with controls. Taken together, these data indicate that UDE up-regulates the number and frequency of SI LP eosinophils, which can down-regulate the Th1 and Th17 responses via IL-4 secretion and contribute to intestinal homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Integrative Biosciences and Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea ; Department of Pathology, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Min Seong
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Jung-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chun-Pyo
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Eun-Jung
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun Ji
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Jeun
authors.forename: Chan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Eun-Kyung
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwang-Seong
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Bo-Gie
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kwang Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Young Pyo
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Kyoo-Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: You-Me
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Myoung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jang
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002452:Cell Count; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D034403:Ulmus / Q000737:chemistry*; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010936:Plant Extracts; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E