The Anti-Allergic Rhinitis Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Shenqi by Regulating Mast Cell Degranulation and Th1/Th2 Cytokine Balance.
Shenqi is a traditional Chinese polyherbal medicine has been widely used for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-allergic rhinitis activity of Shenqi and explore its underlying molecular mechanism. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic rhinitis rat model was used to evaluate the anti-allergic rhinitis effect of Shenqi. The effect of Shenqi on IgE-mediated degranulation was measured using rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) cells. Primary spleen lymphocytes were isolated to investigate the anti-allergic mechanism of Shenqi by detecting the expression of transcription factors via Western blot and the level of cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-γ) via ELISA. In OVA-induced AR rat models, Shenqi relieved the allergic rhinitis symptoms, inhibited the histopathological changes of nasal mucosa, and reduced the levels of IL-4 and IgE. The results from the in vitro study certified that Shenqi inhibited mast cell degranulation. Furthermore, the results of GATA3, T-bet, p-STAT6, and SOCS1 expression and production of IFN-γ and IL-4 demonstrated that Shenqi balanced the ratio of Th1/Th2 (IFN-γ/IL-4) in OVA-stimulated spleen lymphocytes. In conclusion, these results suggest that Shenqi exhibits an obvious anti-allergic effect by suppressing the mast cell-mediated allergic response and by improving the imbalance of Th1/Th2 ratio in allergic rhinitis.
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. shaoyangyang@imm.ac.cn.
Yang-Yang
YY
Shao
Department of Liver disease, Army General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100700, China. zhzhym2006@163.com.
Yi-Ming
YM
Zhou
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. humin@imm.ac.cn.
Min
M
Hu
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. lijz@imm.ac.cn.
Jin-Ze
JZ
Li
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. cchengjuan@imm.ac.cn.
Cheng-Juan
CJ
Chen
Department of Pharmacy, Changji Vocational and Technical College, Changji 831100, China. 13899670598@163.com.
Yong-Jiang
YJ
Wang
Xinjiang Jinshikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Urumchi 830000, China. w13909918288@163.com.
Xiao-Yun
XY
Shi
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. wwenj@imm.ac.cn.
Wen-Jie
WJ
Wang
State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China. ttzhang@imm.ac.cn.
Tian-Tai
TT
Zhang
D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C585913:shenqi; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
Shenqi; Th1/Th2 balance; allergic rhinitis; anti-allergic activity; degranulation