title: Regulatory T Cell Induced by Poria cocos Bark Exert Therapeutic Effects in Murine Models of Atopic Dermatitis and Food Allergy.
abstract: The prevalence of allergic disorders including atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy (FA) has increased dramatically in pediatric populations, but there is no effective drug available for their management. Therefore, trials are required for the development of safe therapeutic agents such as herbal medicines. We determined whether orally administered Poria cocos bark (PCB) extract could exert immunosuppressive effects on allergic and inflammatory symptoms of AD and FA. For both AD, which was induced using house dust mite extract, and FA, which was induced by exposure to ovalbumin, model mice were orally treated with PCB extract for 62 days and 18 days, respectively. We also investigated the inductive effect of PCB extract on the generation and maintenance of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs). The symptoms of AD and FA were ameliorated by the administration of PCB extract. Furthermore, PCB extract inhibited the Th2-related cytokines and increased the population of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) Tregs in both AD and FA models. In ex vivo experiments, PCB extract promoted the functional differentiation of Foxp3(+)CD4(+) Tregs, which is dependent on aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation. Thus, PCB extract has potential as an oral immune suppressor for the treatment of AD and FA through the generation of Tregs.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Entrepreneurial BioConvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Jung
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5034-4299
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition and Metabolism Research, Korea Food Research Institute, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-746, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: See
authors.affiliation: WCU Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeyoung
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: WCU Department of Molecular Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Science, Graduate School of Convergence Science and Technology and College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea; Laboratory of Immunology, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Yuil
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1843-6967
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition and Metabolism Research, Korea Food Research Institute, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-746, Republic of Korea; Food Biotechnology Program, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Hwa
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shon
authors.affiliation: Division of Nutrition and Metabolism Research, Korea Food Research Institute, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do 463-746, Republic of Korea; Food Biotechnology Program, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-350, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Soon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0942-7161
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D024301:Plant Bark; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000187:drug effects; D000070660:Wolfiporia / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts