Anti-Allergic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Neferine on RBL-2H3 Cells

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2021-10, Vol.22 (20), p.10994
• Main Authors: Chiu, Kuan-Ming, Hung, Yen-Ling, Wang, Su-Jane, Tsai, Yi-Ju, Wu, Nan-Lin, Liang, Cher-Wei, Chang, Der-Chen, Hung, Chi-Feng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Aging; Aging (natural); Allergens; Allergies; Animal models; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Atopic dermatitis; Benzylisoquinolines - pharmacology; Benzylisoquinolines - therapeutic use; Calcimycin; Calcimycin - pharmacology; Calcium (intracellular); Calcium - metabolism; Cell culture; Cell Line; Cell Movement - drug effects; Chemokines; Compound 48/80; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Cytoplasm; Cytotoxicity; Degranulation; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Atopic - chemically induced; Dermatitis, Atopic - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Atopic - pathology; Dinitrochlorobenzene - pharmacology; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Eczema; Histamine; Hypersensitivity; In vivo methods and tests; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; itching; Kinases; MAP kinase; mast cell; Mast cells; Mast Cells - cytology; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases - metabolism; natural product; Natural products; neferine; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-κB protein; Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate; Phosphorylation; Phosphorylation - drug effects; Proteins; Psoriasis; Scratching; Scratching behavior; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Skin
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms222010994

Mast cells play a very important role in skin allergy and inflammation, including atopic dermatitis and psoriasis. In the past, it was found that neferine has anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects on the skin, but its effect on mast cells has not yet been studied in detail. In this study, we used mast cells (RBL-2H3 cells) and mouse models to study the anti-allergic and inflammatory effects of neferine. First, we found that neferine inhibits the degranulation of mast cells and the expression of cytokines. In addition, we observed that when mast cells were stimulated by A23187/phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), the elevation of intracellular calcium was inhibited by neferine. The phosphorylation of the MAPK/NF-κB pathway is also reduced by pretreatment of neferine. The results of in vivo studies show that neferine can improve the appearance of dermatitis and mast cell infiltration caused by dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Moreover, the expressions of barrier proteins in the skin are also restored. Finally, it was found that neferine can reduce the scratching behavior caused by compound 48/80. Taken together, our results indicate that neferine is a very good anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory natural product. Its effect on mast cells contributes to its pharmacological mechanism.