title: A novel synthetic mycolic Acid inhibits bronchial hyperresponsiveness and allergic inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recognition of microbes is important to trigger the innate immune system. Mycolic acid (MA) is a component of the cell walls of mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin. MA has immunogenic properties, which may modulate the innate and adaptive immune response. This study aimed to investigate whether a novel synthetic MA (sMA) inhibits allergic inflammatory responses in a mouse model of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  BALB/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with sMA followed by sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin (OVA). Mice were examined for bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), the influx of inflammatory cells into the lung tissues, histopathological changes in the lungs and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in the spleen, and examined the response after the depleting regulatory T cells (Tregs) with an anti-CD25mAb.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment of mice with sMA suppressed the asthmatic response, including BHR, bronchoalveolar inflammation, and pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation. Anti-CD25mAb treatment abrogated the suppressive effects of sMA in this mouse model of asthma and totally depleted CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cells in the spleen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  sMA attenuated allergic inflammation in a mouse model of asthma, which might be related with CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T cell.
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ha-Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Applied Research Division Neopharm Co., Ltd., Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Kyoo
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ho-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Research Center for Standardization of Allergic Diseases, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ju-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Ju
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinho
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pulmonary Disorders, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seoung-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Pulmonary Disorders, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Childhood Asthma Atopy Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Research Center for Standardization of Allergic Diseases, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hong
keywords: Mycolic acid; allergic inflammation; asthma; mice; regulatory T cells