Paeoniflorin inhibits inflammatory responses in mice with allergic contact dermatitis by regulating the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines

• Published in: Inflammation research Vol. 62; no. 12; pp. 1035 - 1044
• Main Authors: Wang, Chun, Yuan, Jun, Wu, Hua-xun, Chang, Yan, Wang, Qing-tong, Wu, Yu-jing, Liu, Li-hua, Wei, Wei
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel Springer Basel 01.12.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergology; Animal models; Animals; Animals, Outbred Strains; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Benzoates - pharmacology; Benzoates - therapeutic use; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Bridged-Ring Compounds - pharmacology; Bridged-Ring Compounds - therapeutic use; Cytokines - blood; Cytokines - immunology; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - immunology; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - pathology; Dermatology; Dinitrochlorobenzene; Glucosides - pharmacology; Glucosides - therapeutic use; Immunology; Irritants; Male; Mice; Monoterpenes; Neurology; Original Research Paper; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Rheumatology; Skin - drug effects; Skin - pathology; Spleen - cytology; Spleen - drug effects; Spleen - pathology; Thymus Gland - cytology; Thymus Gland - drug effects; Paeoniflorin; Interleukin-4; Allergic contact dermatitis; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-10; Interleukin -17
• ISSN: 1023-3830; 1420-908X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00011-013-0662-8

Objective Paeoniflorin (Pae) was previously reported to inhibit inflammation in the skin of mice with allergic contact dermatitis (ACD); however, the mechanism remains unclear. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Pae on the regulation of cytokine production in a murine model of ACD. Methods ACD was induced in the mice by repeated application of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to their skin. Cutaneous inflammation was evaluated by measuring ear swelling and by histological examination. The cytokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results The results showed that topical application of DNCB caused obvious swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with Pae (70 or 140 mg/kg/d) significantly inhibited the cutaneous inflammation and decreased thymocyte proliferation in the mice with ACD. Additional data indicated that Pae increased interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-10 production but reduced IL-2 and IL-17 levels in the serum as well as in thymocyte and splenocyte culture supernatants. As expected, IL-2 and IL-17 levels in the serum displayed a significant positive correlation with the severity of skin inflammation. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-10 levels were negatively correlated with the inflammation. Conclusions The anti-inflammatory action of Pae in the murine model of ACD may be related to its regulation of an imbalanced cytokine production.