Cordycepin alleviates airway hyperreactivity in a murine model of asthma by attenuating the inflammatory process.
Cordycepin (Cor), which is a naturally occurring nucleoside derivative isolated from Cordyceps militaris, has been shown to exert excellent antiinflammatory activity in a murine model of acute lung injury. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antiasthmatic activity of Cor (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) and to investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that Cor attenuated airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion, and ovalbumin (Ova)-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and alleviated lung inflammation with decreased eosinophils and macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Notably, Cor reduced the upregulation of eotaxin, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the BAL fluid. Furthermore, Cor markedly blocked p38-MAPK and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signalling pathway activation in the Ova-driven asthmatic mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that some of the antiasthmatic benefits of Cor attributable to diets and/or tonics may result from reductions in inflammatory processes and that these antiasthmatic properties involve the inhibition of Th2-type responses through the suppression of the p38-MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Xiaofeng
X
Yang
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Yanxiang
Y
Li
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Yanhao
Y
He
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Tingting
T
Li
Laboratory Animal Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Weirong
W
Wang
School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China.
Jiye
J
Zhang
Liaoning Province Academy of Analytic Science, Shenyang 110015, Liaoning, PR China.
Jingyuan
J
Wei
College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, Jilin, PR China.
Yanhong
Y
Deng
Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi, PR China. Electronic address: linrong63@aliyun.com.
Rong
R
Lin
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D032661:Cordyceps / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003839:Deoxyadenosines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009093:Mucus / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D003839:Deoxyadenosines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C058120:cordycepin
Allergic inflammation; Cordycepin (Cor); Hyperresponsiveness; Ovalbumin (Ova)