Epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects toluene diisocyanate-induced airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma

AbstractEpigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a major form of tea catechin, has anti-allergic properties. To elucidate the anti-allergic mechanisms of EGCG, we investigated its regulation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9) expression in toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-inhalation lung tissues as well as TNF-α and Th2 cytokine (IL-5) production in BAL fluid. Compared with untreated asthmatic mice those administrated with EGCG had significantly reduced asthmatic reaction. Also, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by TDI inhalation was diminished by administration of EGCG in BAL fluid. These results suggest that EGCG regulates inflammatory cell migration possibly by suppressing MMP-9 production and ROS generation, and indicate that EGCG may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for bronchial asthma

Platelet-activating Factor–mediated NF-κB Dependency of a Late Anaphylactic Reaction

Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening systemic allergic reaction with the potential for a recurrent or biphasic pattern. Despite an incidence of biphasic reaction between 5 and 20%, the molecular mechanism for the reaction is unknown. Using a murine model of penicillin V–induced systemic anaphylaxis, we show an autoregulatory cascade of biphasic anaphylactic reactions. Induction of anaphylaxis caused a rapid increase in circulating platelet-activating factor (PAF) levels. In turn, the elevated PAF contributes to the early phase of anaphylaxis as well as the subsequent activation of the nuclear factor (NF)-κB, a crucial transcription factor regulating the expression of many proinflammatory cytokines and immunoregulatory molecules. The induction of NF-κB activity is accompanied by TNF-α production, which, in turn, promotes late phase PAF synthesis. This secondary wave of PAF production leads eventually to the late phase of anaphylactic reactions. Mast cells do not appear to be required for development of the late phase anaphylaxis. Together, this work reveals the first mechanistic basis for biphasic anaphylactic reactions and provides possible therapeutic strategies for human anaphylaxis

l-Glutamine Attenuates DSS-Induced Colitis via Induction of MAPK Phosphatase-1

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the small intestine and colon. Many investigators have reported that l-glutamine (Gln) therapy improves outcomes of experimental colitis models, although the mechanism is not fully understood. Regarding the anti-inflammatory properties of Gln, we have shown that Gln can effectively deactivate cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) by rapid induction of MAPK phosphatase (MKP)-1. In this study, we explore the possibility that Gln ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis via MKP-1 induction, resulting in inhibition of cPLA2, which has been reported to play a key role in the pathogenesis of IBD. Oral Gln intake attenuated DSS-induced colitis. Gln inhibited cPLA2 phosphorylation, as well as colonic levels of TNF-α and leukotriene (LT)B4. Gln administration resulted in early and enhanced MKP-1 induction. Importantly, MKP-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA), but not control siRNA, significantly abrogated the Gln-mediated (1) induction of MKP-1; (2) attenuation of colitis (colon length, histological abnormality, and inflammation; and (3) inhibition of cPLA2 phosphorylation and colonic levels of TNF-α and LTB4. These data indicated that Gln ameliorated DSS-induced colitis via MKP-1 induction