Effect of antiallergic herbal agents on chloride channel-3 and immune microenvironment in nasal mucosal epithelia of allergic rhinitis rabbits

Background Allergic rhinitis （AR） is a Th2 dominant cytokine response. Chloride channel-3 （CIC-3） plays an important role in nasal mucosal edema and inflammatory pathologic changes in AR. Antiallergic herbal agents （AHA） are antiallergic herbal products. In the previous study, we have demonstrated that AHA clearly inhibited allergic medium and relieved allergic reaction of AR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of CIC-3 and discuss the possible therapeutic effects of AHA on immune microenvironment in AR. Methods AHA were produced and used to treat AR. An animal model of an AR rabbit was established by ovalbumin （OVA）. The rhinitis rabbits were randomly divided into three groups： AHA treated group （AHATG）, model group （MG） and healthy control group （HCG）. The expressions of CIC-3 protein were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mucosal epithelial cells of all the rabbit groups were primarily cultured with tissue culture method in vitro with or without rhlL-4 or rhlL-2. Furthermore, the expressions of CIC-3 mRNA were detected by real-time PCR. The levels of monocyte chemotactic factor-1 （MCP-1） and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 （VCAM-1） protein in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. Results The expressions of CIC-3 mRNA increased more in mucosal epithelial cells of MG than those in AHATG and HCG （P 〈0.01）. The levels of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of MG were significantly higher than those in the other two groups （P 〈0.01）. Those were significantly increased in MG untreated 12 hours later than those in other two groups （P 〈0.01）. The expressions of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of MG and HCG treated with rhlL-4 were significantly higher than those in the AHATG treated with rhlL-4 （P 〈0.01）. The levels of CIC-3 mRNA, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 protein in culture supernatants of all groups treated with rhlL-2 showed no significant changes （P 〉0.05）. Conclusions AHA can inhibit the secretions of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in mucosal epithelia and improve inflammatory reaction of AR. CIC-3 plays an important role in the secretion of cytokines and mucosal inflammatory response in AR. RhlL-4 can enhance the secretion of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 in mucosal epithelial cells, especially during the AR process. These enhanced effects of rhlL-4 were significantly suppressed by AHA. The secretions of CIC-3, MCP-1 and VCAM-1 can not be induced obviously by rhlL-2 in mucosal epithelial cells in AR.

Effects of antiallergic herbal agents on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in nasal mucosal epithelia of allergic rhinitis rabbits

Background It has been found that the expression of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator （CFTR） is closely related to allergic rhinitis （AR）. In the previous study, we have demonstrated that antiallergic herbal agents （AHA） can obviously inhibit the allergic reaction of AR. The aim of this study was to explore the expression of CFTR and the effects of AHA on CFTR to improve the allergic reaction of AR. Methods An animal model of an AR rabbit was established using ovalbumin （OVA）. The rhinitis rabbits were randomly assigned to three groups： AHA treating group （AHATG）, modeling group （MG） and healthy controlling group （HCG）. The expressions of CFTR protein were examined by immunohistochemical method. The mucosal epithelial cells of all the rabbits were primarily cultured with tissue culture method in vitro and treated with or without glibenclamide for 24 hours. The levels of monocyte chemotactic factor-l（MCP-1） and RANTES protein in supernatants of culture were measured by ELISA, and the expressions of CFTR mRNA were detected by real-time PCR. Results The expressions of CFTR mRNA and protein greatly increased in mucosal epithelial cells of MG. The protein concentrations of MCP-1, RANTES in culture supernatants of MG were significantly higher than those in the other two groups （P 〈0.01）, and they reached much higher level than those at the start points in the MG （P 〈0.05） and were significantly different compared with those in the AHATG after being cultured for 24 hours （P 〈0.01）. CFTR mRNA in MG ＋ glibenclamide were much lower than those in MG （P 〈0.05）. RANTES and CFI-R mRNA treated with glibenclamide in AHATG were significantly lower than those in the AHATG （P 〈0.01）. Minimal changes in the secretions of MCP-1 in the epithelial cells were detected between AHATG and AHATG ＋ glibenclamide （P 〉0.05）. Conclusions AHA can inhibit the secretions of CFTR, RANTES and MCP-1 in mucosal epithelia and improve inflammatory reaction of AR. CFTR may play an important role in the secretion of RANTES and mucosal inflammatory response in AR. Glibenclamide can inhibit the CFTR secretion in mucosal epithelial cells, in particular during AR process. These effects of glibenclamide on secretion of RANTES can be effectively strengthened by AHA.

Some medicinal plants with antiasthmatic potential:a current status

Asthma is a common disease that is rising in prevalence worldwide with the highest prevalence in industrialized countries.Asthma affect about 300 million people worldwide and it has been estimated that a further 100 million will be affected by 2023.Since the ancient times,plants have been exemplary sources of medicine.Current asthma therapy lack satisfactory success due to adverse effect,hence patients are seeking complementary and alternative medicine to treat their asthma.Ayurveda and other Indian literature mention the use of plants in various human ailments.India has about 43 000 plant species and among them several thousand are claimed to possess medicinal properties.Researches conducted in the last few decades on the plants mentioned in ancient literature or used traditionally for asthma have shown antiasthmatic,antihistaminic and antiallergic activity.This review reveals that some plants and their extract have antiasthmatic,antihistaminic,anticholinergic and antiallergic activity.

An Ideal Raw-radish Therapy for Allergic Rhinitis

[Objectives] To explore a kind of simple and effective dietotherapy for allergic rhinitis( AR). [Methods]48 patients with AR were hospitalized and randomly assigned to raw-radish treatment group( 36 patients) or placebo group( 12 patients). Every patient took about 150 g raw radish( experimental group) or cooked radish( placebo group) one time or separately a day. [Results]By continuously taking raw radish for fifteen days,the total cure rate reached 80. 6% and total valid rate reached 94. 4%,with the valid rate 100% for persistent AR and 66. 7% for intermittent AR. But cooked radish( placebo) was invalid to AR. Presumably the wonder efficacy of raw radish may be related with isothiocyanates in radish. Since isothiocyanates are susceptible to hydrolysis by cooking,so radish must be eaten raw. [Conclusions] Raw radish therapy works wonders for AR,which may be more effective,safer,cheaper and simpler method for prevention and treatment of AR at present.