Matrine attenuates allergic airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration by suppressing eotaxin and Th2 cytokine production in asthmatic mice.
BACKGROUND
Matrine has been isolated from Sophora flavescens, and found to show anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and anti-cachectic effects in hepatomas. The present study investigated whether matrine suppressed eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice, and decreased the inflammatory response of tracheal epithelial cells.


METHODS
BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to induce allergic asthma in mice. These asthmatic mice were given various doses of matrine by intraperitoneal injection. Additionally, activated human tracheal epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells) were treated with matrine, and evaluated for levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.


RESULTS
We found that matrine significantly decreased AHR, and suppressed goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophil infiltration, and inflammatory response in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Matrine also reduced the levels of Th2 cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and suppressed OVA-IgE production in serum. Furthermore, matrine treatment of activated BEAS-2B cells decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines and eotaxins, as well as suppressed ICAM-1 expression and thus adhesion of eosinophils to inflammatory BEAS-2B cells in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that matrine can improve allergic asthma in mice, and therefore has potential therapeutic potential in humans.
Graduate Institute of Health Industry Technology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Research Center for Industry of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Wen-Chung
WC
Huang
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedica Science, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Cheng-Chi
CC
Chan
Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Shu-Ju
SJ
Wu
Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-yuan, Taiwan.
Li-Chen
LC
Chen
School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan; Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Lin-Kuo, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Jiann-Jong
JJ
Shen
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedica Science, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Ming-Ling
ML
Kuo
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedica Science, Chang Gung University, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.
Meng-Chun
MC
Chen
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: ccliu@gw.cgust.edu.tw.
Chian-Jiun
CJ
Liou
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin; D011807:Quinolizines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000093842:Matrines
D000470:Alkaloids; D016207:Cytokines; D011807:Quinolizines; D010047:Ovalbumin; D000093842:Matrines
Asthma; Cytokine; Eosinophil; Eotaxin; Matrine