Effect of MX-68 on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice and guinea-pigs

Absence of active systemic anaphylaxis in guinea pigs upon intramuscular injection of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (Vero cells)

Background: The safety of novel vaccines against COVID-19 is currently a major focus of preclinical research. As a part of the safety evaluation testing package, 24 healthy guinea pigs were used to determine whether repeated administration of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could induce active systemic anaphylaxis (ASA), and to evaluate its degree of severity.Method: According to sex and body weight, the animals were randomly divided into three experimental groups (eight animals per group). The negative control group received 0.9% sodium chloride (priming dose: 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 1 mL/animal); the positive control group received 10% ovalbumin (priming dose: 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 1 mL/animal); and the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine group received inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccines (priming dose: 100 U in 0.5 mL/animal; challenge dose: 200 U in 1 mL/animal). Priming dose administration was conducted by multi-point injection into the muscles of the hind limbs, three times, once every other day. On days 14 and 21 after the final priming injection, a challenge test was conducted. Half of the animals in each group were injected intravenously with twice the dose and volume of the tested substance used for immunization. During the experimental course, the injection site, general clinical symptoms, body weight, and systemic allergic reaction symptoms were monitored.Result: After intramuscular injection of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, there were no abnormal reactions at the injection site, clinical symptoms, or deaths. There was no difference in body weight between the groups, and there were no allergic reactions. Conclusion: Thus, inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine injected intramuscularly in guinea pigs did not produce ASA and had a good safety profile, which can provide actual data on vaccine risks and important reference data for clinical research on this vaccine.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Alloferon on Ovalbumin-induced Asthma

Asthma is a well-known inflammatory lung disease; however, the specific underlying mechanism is largely unknown. We previously demonstrated that alloferon effectively downregulates pulmonary inflammation. In this study, we examined whether alloferon has a therapeutic effect on asthma. Alloferon remarkably decreased the number of eosinophils, macrophages, and neutrophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma mice. It was synergistically decreased with 2.5 mg/kg prednisolone (PDA). Inflammatory cell infiltration around the bronchioles and in the alveolus of OVA-induced asthma mice was effectively prevented by alloferon alone and combined treatment with alloferon and PDS. The production of IL-5 and IL-17 was decreased by alloferon alone and combined treatment with alloferon and PDS. There was no change the level of total immunoglobulin (Ig) following alloferon administration; however, total Ig was decreased by PDS. IgG2a levels were not changed by either alloferon alone or alloferon in combination with PDS. However, the levels of OVA-specific IgG1 and IgE were decreased by alloferon and PDS. In conclusion, our results suggest that a combination of alloferon and prednisolone is effective for the treatment of asthma, as it prevents inflammatory cell infiltration via the downregulation of IL-5 and IL-17 production and decreases IgG1 and IgE production via the suppression of T helper type 2 immune response.

Anti-inflammatory Effects of Sanguisorbae Radix on Contact Dermatitis Induced by Dinitrofluorobenzene in Mice

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-inflflammatory effects of Sanguisorbae Radix on contact dermatitis (CD).

METHODS

Mice were sensitized by painting 30 µL of 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) onto each ear for 3 days. Four days later, mice were challenged by painting with 50 µL of DNFB onto the shaved dorsum every 2 days. Sanguisorbae Radix methanol extract (MESR) was applied onto the shaved dorsum every 2 days. The effects of MESR on skin thickness, skin weights, histopathological changes, skin lesions and cytokine production in DNFB-induced CD mice were investigated, as well as its effects on body weights and spleen/body weight ratio.

RESULTS

Topical application of MESR effectively inhibited enlargement of skin thickness and weight (P<0.05). MESR treatment also inhibited hyperplasia, spongiosis and immune cell infiltration induced by DNFB in inflamed tissues and improved lesions on dorsum skin in CD mice. Moreover, treatment with MESR suppressed the increase in the levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α,P<0.01) and interferon γ (IFN-γ,P<0.05), respectively. Finally, MESR had no effect on body weight gain or spleen/body weight ratio.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that MESR acts as an anti-inflflammatory agent that decreases the production of TNF-α and IFN-γ, resulting in reductions of skin lesions and histopathological changes in inflamed skin tissues.

Effects of Schisandra chinensis Turcz. fruit on contact dermatitis induced by dinitrofluorobenzene in mice

Schisandra chinensis Turcz. fruit is widely used to treat skin diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of the methanol extract of S. chinensis (MESC) on 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis (CD) in mice. The effects of MESC on ear thickness and weight, histopathological changes, immune cell filtration and cytokine production were investigated in DNFB-induced CD mice. Topical application of MESC effectively inhibited ear swelling (30 or 300 μg on the left ear, P<0.001; 30 μg on the right ear, P<0.001). MESC also inhibited hyperplasia, spongiosis (100 μg/ear, P<0.05 and 300 μg/ear, P<0.001, respectively) and immune cell infiltration (100 μg/ear, P<0.05; 300 μg/ear, P<0.001) induced by DNFB. In addition, MESC suppressed increases in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels (100 or 300 μg/ear, P<0.05), interferon (INF)-γ (30 μg/ear, P<0.05; 100 μg/ear, P<0.01; 300 μg/ear, P<0.001), interleukin (IL)-6 (300 μg/ear, P<0.05) and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 (30 μg/ear, P<0.05; 100 μg/ear, P<0.01; 300 μg/ear, P<0.001). These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of MESC are mediated by the reduced production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6 and MCP-1, and that MESC has potential use for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.

Riluzole prevents soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers-induced perturbation of spontaneous discharge in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats

Abnormal accumulation of soluble amyloid beta (Aβ) is believed to cause malfunction of neurons in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The hippocampus is one of the earliest affected brain regions in AD. However, little effort has been made to investigate the effects of soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers on discharge properties of hippocampal neurons in vivo. This study was designed to examine the effects of soluble Aβ1-42 oligomers on the discharge properties of hippocampal CA1 neurons using extracellular single-unit recordings in vivo. The protective effects of riluzole (RLZ) were also investigated for the prevention of soluble oligomers of Aβ1-42-induced alterations in the spontaneous discharge of hippocampal neurons. The results showed that (1) the mean frequency of spontaneous discharge was increased by the local application of 100 μM Aβ1-42 oligomers; (2) Aβ1-42 oligomers also induced alterations of the neuronal firing patterns in the hippocampal CA1 region; and (3) pretreatment with 20 μM RLZ effectively inhibited the Aβ1-42-induced enhancement of spontaneous discharge and alterations of neuronal firing patterns in CA1 neurons. Our study suggested that Aβ1-42 oligomers induced hyperactivity and perturbed the firing patterns in hippocampal neurons. RLZ may provide neuroprotective effects on the Aβ1-42-induced perturbation of neuronal activities in the hippocampal region of rats.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius slough shed on contact dermatitis induced by dinitrofluorobenzene in mice

BACKGROUND

The slough shed of Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius is widely used to treat skin diseases in China, Japan, and Korea.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of C. atrata on contact dermatitis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We investigated the effects of C. atrata methanol extract (MECA) on ear swelling, histophathological changes and cytokine production in 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis (CD) mice.

RESULTS

Topical application of MECA effectively inhibited enlargement of ear swelling (30 and 100 μ/ear, P < 0.05; 300 μg/ear, P < 0.01). MECA treatment also inhibited hyperplasia, spongiosis (100 and 300 μg/ear, P < 0.001), and immune cell infiltration (30 μg/ear, P < 0.05; 100 and 300 μg/ear, P < 0.001) induced by DNFB. In addition, treatment with MECA suppressed the increase in the levels of TNF-α (P < 0.05), IFN-g (3, 100 μg/ear, P < 0.05; 300 μg/ear, P < 0.01), and IL-6 (100 μg/ear, P < 0.05; 300 μg/ear, P < 0.01) production.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that MECA has the potential for use in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases, including CD. Moreover, the results presented herein indicate that anti-inflammatory actions of MECA are mediated by decreasing production of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in inflamed tissues.

Effect of β-glucan originated from Aureobasidium pullulans on asthma induced by ovalbumin in mouse

The objective of this study is to detect the effect of beta-glucan derived from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, a UV induced mutant of A. pullulans on the ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma. The test articles were orally administered to OVA-inducing asthmatic mice 4 days after sensitization for 13 days at 31.25, 62.5 or 125 mg/kg levels. Three days after the OVA sensitization, ten mice were selected per group based on body weight and were sacrificed three days after the OVA aerosol challenge. The changes on the body weight, lung weight, total leukocytes in peripheral blood and total cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were observed with changes on the lung histopathology and histomorphometry. The results were compared with dexamethasone (DEXA) 3 mg/kg intraperitoneally treated mice. The results showed increases of body weight after the OVA aerosol challenge, lung weight, total leukocytes and eosinophils in peripheral blood, total cell numbers, neutrophil and eosinophils in BALF were detected in the OVA control compared to sham control (non-OVA). However, these changes from asthmatic responses were significantly or dose-dependently decreased in the beta-glucan-dosing groups compared to those of the OVA control. Therefore, it is concluded that beta-glucan has favorable effects on asthmatic response induced by OVA. It was found that beta-glucan 125 mg/kg showed similar or slightly lower efficacy compared with DEXA 3 mg/kg.

Riluzole in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders

Recent advances implicate amino acid neurotransmission in the pathophysiology and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Riluzole, which is approved and marketed for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is thought to be neuroprotective through its modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Riluzole has multiple molecular actions in vitro; the two that have been documented to occur at physiologically realistic drug concentrations and are therefore most likely to be clinically relevant are inhibition of certain voltage-gated sodium channels, which can lead to reduced neurotransmitter release, and enhanced astrocytic uptake of extracellular glutamate.Although double-blind, placebo-controlled trials are lacking, several open-label trials have suggested that riluzole, either as monotherapy or as augmentation of standard therapy, reduces symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder, unipolar and bipolar depression, and generalized anxiety disorder. In studies of psychiatrically ill patients conducted to date, the drug has been quite well tolerated; common adverse effects include nausea and sedation. Elevation of liver function tests is common and necessitates periodic monitoring, but has been without clinical consequence in studies conducted to date in psychiatric populations. Case reports suggest utility in other conditions, including trichotillomania and self-injurious behaviour associated with borderline personality disorder. Riluzole may hold promise for the treatment of several psychiatric conditions, possibly through its ability to modulate pathologically dysregulated glutamate levels, and merits further investigation.

Induction of late airway response was involved in serum antigen-specific immunoglobulin G in rats

The antigen-induced immediate airway response (IAR) has been considered a form of bronchoconstriction mainly provoked by histamine and leukotriene C4/D4/E4, which are released by stimulation by antigen-specific IgE. However, the pathophysiological features of the antigen-induced late airway response (LAR) are not yet fully understood. In the present study, sensitized rats were repeatedly exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) to induce IAR and LAR, and the immunological profiles of IAR and LAR were examined. The first antigen inhalation induced only IAR but not LAR. However, the second antigen inhalation 7 days after IAR induced LAR but not IAR. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha level in BALF in LAR was significantly higher than that in IAR, although there were no differences in histamine, leukotriene C4/D4/E4, interleukin (IL)-1beta, or IL-13 levels between IAR and LAR. Serum antigen-specific IgE titer was high in both IAR and LAR, but serum antigen-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a titers were dramatically high in LAR but not IAR. There were significant correlations between antigen-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a titers and LAR. Interestingly, LAR could be induced in normal rats by transfer of serum from LAR rats, which exhibited high antigen-specific IgG, IgG1, and IgG2a titers. In conclusion, these findings suggest that repeated antigen inhalation converts IAR to LAR, and that LAR is a reaction triggered by antigen-specific IgG and involving TNF-alpha. This is the first study to directly suggest the involvement of antigen-specific IgG in the induction of LAR.

Anti-inflammatory modulation of chronic airway inflammation in the murine house dust mite model

Asthma affects 300 million people worldwide and continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Disease relevant animal models of asthma are required for benchmarking of novel therapeutic mechanisms in comparison to established clinical approaches. We demonstrate that chronic exposure of mice to house dust mite (HDM) extract results in allergic airway inflammation, that can be significantly attenuated by therapeutic intervention with phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition and corticosteroid treatment. Female BALB/c mice were administered intranasally with HDM (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus) extract daily for five weeks, and therapeutic intervention with anti-inflammatory treatment (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg subcutaneous once daily, prednisolone 10mg/kg orally twice daily, fluticasone 3, 10 and 30 microg intranasally twice daily, roflumilast 10 mg/kg orally twice daily and intranasally 10 and 30 microg twice daily) was initiated after three weeks of exposure. Chronic HDM extract exposure resulted in significant airway inflammation, demonstrated by bronchoalveolar lavage cell infiltration and lung tissue inflammatory gene expression by TaqMan low density array. Chronic steroid treatment significantly inhibited these parameters. In addition, roflumilast caused a significant reduction in airway inflammatory cell infiltration. We have demonstrated that chronic HDM-induced allergic inflammation can be significantly ameliorated by steroid treatment, and that phosphodiesterase 4 inhibition modulates inflammatory cell infiltration. Therefore, the murine HDM model may be a useful tool for evaluating new targets for the treatment of asthma.

Sam So Eum, a herb extract, as the remedy for allergen-induced asthma in mice

We studied administering Sam So Eum (SSE) as a herbal medicine to treat asthma in mice and we discussed the mechanism of restoring the immuno-modulating cytokines such as IL-10 and IFN-gamma. The mice treated with SSE did not show any significant variation in their body weight and they looked very similar to the controlled ones. The SSE-treated mice showed reduced levels of airway responsiveness to methacholine, and these levels were initially elevated by the induction of asthma compared to the control group. The SSE elevated production level of IFN-gamma, which was down-regulated upon induction of asthma. This result implies that SSE can change the Th1/Th2 ratio through Th1-skewing reactions, and that SSE can decrease airway hyperresponsiveness by changing the Th1/Th2 ratio. The treatment with SSE also restored the IL-10 level to that of the naive condition. This means that SSE reduced the airway inflammation through this pathway. The ovalbumin (OVA)-specific antibody (total Ig) production in the serum was also decreased upon SSE treatment. Prednisolone (PD) was used as positive control. The effectiveness of SSE was almost the same as that of PD. These results suggest the possibility of using SSE for the treatment of patients with asthma, and its therapeutic efficacy involves restoring the IFN-gamma and IL-10 levels.

Effects of oral alpha-tocopherol on lung response in rat model of allergic asthma

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease in which an oxidant/antioxidant imbalance plays an important role. d-alpha-tocopherol (biologically the most active form of vitamin E) has redox properties and by scavenging the free radicals can act as an antioxidant. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of orally administered alpha-tocopherol in a rat model of allergic asthma.

METHODOLOGY

Actively sensitized rats (OA) were treated with alpha-tocopherol (400 mg/kg/day for 10 days) or vehicle; 1 h after the last dose, they were challenged with antigen aerosol. The antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness to direct bronchoconstrictor (serotonin), the inflammatory cell infiltrate and histological changes were determined 1 or 24 h after the antigen challenge.

RESULTS

Alpha-tocopherol pretreatment was not significantly effective at reducing the studied parameters when compared with controls, even though there was a tendency to a reduction in bronchial responsiveness and in eosinophil and neutrophil infiltration.

CONCLUSION

Alpha-tocopherol when administered in the chosen study design in an animal model of asthma had no major effect on airway inflammation. The effect of antioxidants deserves further evaluation.

Synthesis, antiproliferative and antifungal activities of some 2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-3,1-benzothiazines

A new method for the synthesis of 4H-3,1-benzothiazine skeleton is described. The compounds were obtained by the reaction of sulfinylbis(2,4-dihydroxythiobenzoyl) with o-substituted anilines bearing an activated methylene group (-CH2OH, -CH2NR1R2), o-aminobenzanilides or 2-aminobenzophenones. The reaction proceeded through thiobenzanilide intermediates, which were converted to the 4H-3,1-benzothiazine fused ring by an endocyclization process. The compounds were tested for their antiproliferative properties against the cells of a human breast cancer T47D line. The activity of some compounds was comparable to that of cisplatin, studied as a control. A strong antifungal effect against the strains of moulds, yeasts and dermatophytes was also found.

Development and Evaluation of a Direct Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for the Quantification of Guinea-Pig Immunoglobulin E

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the immunoglobulin E (IgE) in serum and plasma from guinea pig using mouse monoclonal antibodies specific for guinea-pig IgE. Mouse monoclonal antibodies were raised against purified IgE protein. The ELISA was performed using a combination of two anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies. One antibody was labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP), and the other was coated on polystyrene wells. Purified guinea-pig IgE was used as the standard material. The validity of the ELISA was confirmed by precision, dilution, recovery, and interference tests. The range of detection was 3.1-800 ng of IgE mass per mL of serum and plasma. The intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation were 4.6% and 5.7%, respectively, or less. The recovery test showed variation only between 92.1% and 111.8%, and the anticoagulants showed noninterference with the IgE assay. The mean serum IgE mass concentration in OVA-sensitized guinea pigs was 29438 ng/mL, and it was 48.6 ng/mL in normal guinea pigs. The present ELISA is useful and practical for specific measurement of the guinea-pig IgE, and it is surmised that it would be suitable for use in allergological and pharmacological research.

Targeting memory Th2 cells for the treatment of allergic asthma

Th2 memory cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. Evidence from patients and experimental models indicates that memory Th2 cells reside in the lungs during disease remission and, upon allergen exposure, become activated effectors involved in disease exacerbation. The inhibition of memory Th2 cells or their effector functions in allergic asthma influence disease progression, suggesting their importance as therapeutic targets. They are allergen specific and can potentially be suppressed or eliminated using this specificity. They have distinct activation, differentiation, cell surface phenotype, migration capacity, and effector functions that can be targeted singularly or in combination. Furthermore, memory Th2 cells residing in the lungs can be treated locally. Capitalizing on these unique attributes is important for drug development for allergic asthma. The aim of this review is to present an overview of therapeutic strategies targeting Th2 memory cells in allergic asthma, emphasizing Th2 generation, differentiation, activation, migration, effector function, and survival.