Asthma Prevention by Lactobacillus Rhamnosus in a Mouse Model is Associated With CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T Cells.

Asthma Prevention by Lactobacillus Rhamnosus in a Mouse Model is Associated With CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) T Cells.

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2012 May;4(3):150-6

Authors: Jang SO, Kim HJ, Kim YJ, Kang MJ, Kwon JW, Seo JH, Kim HY, Kim BJ, Yu J, Hong SJ

Abstract
PURPOSE: Probiotic bacteria can induce immune regulation or immune tolerance in allergic diseases. The underlying mechanisms have been recently investigated, but are still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus (Lcr35) in a mouse model of asthma and to identify its mechanism of action.
METHODS: Lcr35 was administered daily by the oral route at a dosage of 1×10(9) CFU/mouse in BALB/c mice for 7 days before the first sensitization. Clinical parameters and regulatory T (Treg) cells were examined. The role of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells was analyzed using a Treg cell-depleting anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb).
RESULTS: Airway hyperresponsiveness, total IgE production, pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation, and splenic lymphocyte proliferation were suppressed after Lcr35 treatment. Th1 (IFN-?) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13) cytokines in the serum were suppressed, and the percentage of CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells in the spleen was significantly increased in the Lcr35 treatment group. Anti-CD25 mAb administration abolished the protective effects of Lcr35, indicating that CD4(+) CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells are essential in mediating the activity of Lcr35.
CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of Lcr35 attenuated the features of allergic asthma in a mouse model and induced immune regulation by a CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cell-mediated mechanism.

PMID: 22548208 [PubMed – in process]

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Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Model of Asthma by Downregulating Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Grape Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Hyperresponsiveness in a Murine Model of Asthma by Downregulating Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Planta Med. 2011 Mar 30;

Authors: Zhou DY, Du Q, Li RR, Huang M, Zhang Q, Wei GZ

Allergic asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness and inflammation of the airway with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and overproduction of nitric oxide (NO). Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been proved to have antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and other pharmacological effects. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of GSPE on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of allergic asthma. BALB/c mice, sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), were intraperitoneally injected with GSPE. Administration of GSPE remarkably suppressed airway resistance and reduced the total inflammatory cell and eosinophil counts in BALF. Treatment with GSPE significantly enhanced the interferon (IFN)- ? level and decreased interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels in BALF and total IgE levels in serum. GSPE also attenuated allergen-induced lung eosinophilic inflammation and mucus-producing goblet cells in the airway. The elevated iNOS expression observed in the OVA mice was significantly inhibited by GSPE. In conclusion, GSPE decreases the progression of airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by downregulating the iNOS expression, promising to have a potential in the treatment of allergic asthma.

PMID: 21452107 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Alveolar macrophages modulate allergic inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

Alveolar macrophages modulate allergic inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

Exp Mol Med. 2011 Mar 18;

Authors: Bang BR, Chun E, Shim EJ, Lee HS, Lee SY, Cho SH, Min KU, Kim YY, Park HW

The role of alveolar macrophages (AMs) in the pathogenesis of asthma is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AM in the murine model of asthma. AMs were selectively depleted by liposomes containing clodronate just before allergen challenges, and changes in inflammatory cells and cytokine concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured. AMs were then adoptively transferred to AM-depleted sensitized mice and changes were measured. Phenotypic changes in AMs were evaluated after in vitro allergen stimulation. AM-depletion after sensitization significantly increased the number of eosinophils and lymphocytes and the concentrations of IL-4, IL-5 and GM-CSF in BAL fluid. These changes were significantly ameliorated only by adoptive transfer of unsensitized AMs, not by sensitized AMs. In addition, in vitro allergen stimulation of AMs resulted in their gaining the ability to produce inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1b, IL-6 and TNF-?, and losing the ability to suppress GM-CSF concentrations in BAL fluid. These findings suggested that AMs worked probably through GM-CSF-dependent mechanisms, although further confirmatory experiments are needed. Our results indicate that the role of AMs in the context of airway inflammation should be re-examined.

PMID: 21415590 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Model for managing asthma in preschoolers leads to dramatic drop in ER visits … – EurekAlert (press release)

Model for managing asthma in preschoolers leads to dramatic drop in ER visits
EurekAlert (press release)
February 25, 2011 — Nearly one in eleven (8.6%) preschool children in the US has been diagnosed with asthma and in some inner city neighborhoods, the figure is closer to one in seven. But, few asthma management programs are designed for parents of

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Allergen-Induced Coexpression of bFGF and TGF-?1 by Macrophages in a Mouse Model of Airway Remodeling: bFGF Induces Macrophage TGF-?1 Expression in vitro.

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Allergen-Induced Coexpression of bFGF and TGF-?1 by Macrophages in a Mouse Model of Airway Remodeling: bFGF Induces Macrophage TGF-?1 Expression in vitro.

Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2010 Nov 25;155(1):12-22

Authors: Yum HY, Cho JY, Miller M, Broide DH

Background: Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is a cytokine that is mitogenic for fibroblasts and smooth muscle and may play a role in airway remodeling in asthma. We have used a mouse model of chronic ovalbumin (OVA) allergen-induced airway remodeling to determine whether bFGF and fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 are expressed and regulated by corticosteroids in the airway, as well as to determine whether bFGF mediates expression of another proremodeling cytokine, transforming growth factor (TGF)-?1. Methods: The airway levels and localization of bFGF, FGF receptor-1 and TGF-?1 were determined by ELISA, immunohistology and image analysis in the remodeled airways of chronic OVA-challenged mice treated with either corticosteroids or diluent. In vitro cultures of bone narrow-derived macrophages were used to determine whether bFGF induced TGF-?1 expression. Results: Mice chronically challenged with OVA developed significant airway remodeling that was associated with significantly increased levels of bFGF and TGF-?1. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated significantly increased bFGF and FGF receptor-1 expression by peri- bronchial F4/80+ cells. Double-label immunofluorescence microscopy studies demonstrated that peribronchial macrophages coexpressed bFGF and TGF-?1. In vitro studies demonstrated that incubation of bone marrow-derived macrophages with bFGF induced expression of TGF-?1. Mice treated with corticosteroids and subjected to chronic OVA challenge had significantly reduced levels of bFGF, FGF receptor-1, peribronchial TGF-?1+ cells and airway remodeling. Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrates that allergen challenge stimulates peribronchial macrophages to coexpress bFGF and TGF-?1 and that bFGF may potentiate macrophage release of TGF-?1 through autocrine and/or paracrine pathways.

PMID: 21109744 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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Protective Effects of Mentha haplocalyx Ethanol Extract (MH) in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma.

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Protective Effects of Mentha haplocalyx Ethanol Extract (MH) in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma.

Phytother Res. 2010 Nov 24;

Authors: Lee MY, Lee JA, Seo CS, Ha H, Lee NH, Shin HK

Mentha haplocalyx Briq., a commonly used herb in traditional Oriental medicine, has a variety of known pharmacological properties. However, neither the protective effects of Mentha haplocalyx ethanol extract (MH) against inflammation of the airway in an asthmatic model nor the mechanisms involved, have previously been reported. In the present study, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced mouse model of allergic asthma was used to investigate whether MH was effective against the disease through regulation of airway inflammation. The MH treatment significantly inhibited increases in immunoglobulin (Ig) E and T-helper 2 (Th2)-type cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-5 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue. Inflammatory cell infiltration of the airway in mice treated with MH was effectively alleviated when compared with infiltration seen in the OVA-induced group. These data indicated that decreased cytokine levels are the result of the decreased number of invaded leukocytes. Also, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in BALF was diminished by MH treatment. Taken together, these findings indicate that the administration of MH may have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of inflammatory disease. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PMID: 21108485 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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