The therapeutic efficacy of α-pinene in an experimental mouse model of allergic rhinitis

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 273 - 282
• Main Authors: Nam, Sun-Young, Chung, Cha-kwon, Seo, Jun-Ho, Rah, So-Young, Kim, Hyung-Min, Jeong, Hyun-Ja
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014
• Subjects: Allergic rhinitis; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Caspase 1 - metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Movement - drug effects; Chemokine CXCL2 - genetics; Chemokine CXCL2 - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; Eosinophils - drug effects; Eosinophils - immunology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Humans; I-kappa B Kinase - metabolism; Immunoglobulin E - metabolism; Inflammation; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Interleukin-4 - metabolism; Mast cells; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - immunology; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Monoterpenes - therapeutic use; Nasal Mucosa - drug effects; Nasal Mucosa - immunology; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Receptor-Interacting Protein Serine-Threonine Kinase 2 - metabolism; Rhinitis, Allergic - drug therapy; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - metabolism; α-Pinene; Inflammation; Mast cells; Allergic rhinitis; α-Pinene
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2014.09.010

In the present study, the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of α-pinene (α-PN) in the ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized allergic rhinitis (AR) model were investigated. Our results showed that pretreatment with α-PN caused a decrease in clinical symptoms, including a decrease in the number of nasal, eye, and ear rubs, and spleen weight in the OVA-sensitized mice. The level of interleukin (IL)-4 was decreased on the spleen tissue of α-PN treated mice. Pretreatment with α-PN significantly decreased levels of nasal immunoglobulin E. Protein levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 were decreased by the administration of α-PN in the nasal mucosa of the OVA-sensitized mice. The increased numbers of eosinophils and mast cells infiltrating the nasal mucosal tissue of mice with AR were decreased following oral administration of α-PN. Post-treatment with α-PN 1h after OVA challenge also resulted in a significant reduction of clinical symptoms and IgE levels. In addition, the expression and phosphorylation of receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2) and IκB kinase (IKK)-β and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and caspase-1 were all increased in the activated human mast cell line, HMC-1 cells, however, increased activations of RIP2, IKK-β, NF-κB, and caspase-1 were inhibited by treatment with α-PN. Taken together, we suggest that α-PN is a promising anti-allergic agent and may be useful in the clinical management of AR. •α-PN can ameliorate allergic symptoms in a mice allergic rhinitis model.•α-PN can decrease IL-4 level in the spleen.•α-PN can suppress migration of eosinophils and mast cells into injury lesion.•α-PN can inhibit NF-κB, RIP2, IKK-β, and caspase-1 activation.•Administration of α-PN is an effective way in allergic rhinitis therapy.