Therapeutic effects of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai extract on ovalbumin-induced allergic rhinitis by inhibition of Th2 cell activation and differentiation via the IL-4/STAT6/GATA3 pathway

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2023-06, Vol.162, p.114730-114730, Article 114730
• Main Authors: Jung, Dong Ho, Lee, Ami, Hwang, Youn-Hwan, Jung, Myung-A., Pyun, Bo-Jeong, Lee, Joo Young, Kim, Taesoo, Song, Kwang Hoon, Ji, Kon-Young
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergic rhinitis; Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease Models, Animal; IL-4/STAT6/GATA3 pathway; Immunoglobulin E; Inflammation - drug therapy; Interleukin-13 - metabolism; Interleukin-4 - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nasal Mucosa - metabolism; Ovalbumin; Plant Extracts - therapeutic use; Pulsatilla - chemistry; Pulsatilla koreana Nakai; Rhinitis, Allergic - drug therapy; STAT6 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Th2 activation; Th2 Cells; Th2 cytokine; Th2 differentiation
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114730

Allergic rhinitis (AR), caused by immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated inflammation, generally occurs in the upper respiratory tract. T helper type 2 (Th2) cell-mediated cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, are important factors in AR pathogenesis. Despite various treatment options, the difficulty in alleviating AR and pharmacological side effects necessitate development of new therapies. The root of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai (P. koreana), a pasque flower, has been used as a herbal medicine. However, its effects on AR remain unclear; therefore, we aimed to explore this subject in the current study. The therapeutic effects of P. koreana water extract (PKN) on the pathophysiological functions of the nasal mucosa was examined in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR mice. The effect of PKN on Th2 activation and differentiation was evaluated using concanavalin A-induced splenocytes and differentiated Th2 cells from naïve CD4+ T cells. We also investigated the effect of changes in JAK/STAT6/GATA3 signaling on IL-4-induced Th2 cells. In OVA-induced AR mice, PKN administration alleviated allergic nasal symptoms and decreased the total number of immune cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in nasal lavage fluid; serum levels of OVA-specific IgE, histamine, and IL-13 were also significantly reduced. PKN also ameliorated OVA-induced nasal mucosal tissue thickening by inhibiting inflammation and goblet cell hyperplasia. PKN treatment significantly inhibited Th2 activity and differentiation through the IL-4/STAT-6/GATA3 pathway in Th2 cells. PKN is an effective AR treatment with the potential to improve patients' daily lives by regulating the allergic inflammatory response induced by Th2 cells. [Display omitted] •The effects of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai (PKN) treatments on allergic rhinitis (AR) are unclear.•PKN was assessed using an AR mouse model, isolated primary splenocytes, and differentiated Th2 cells.•Allergic responses were suppressed by the PKN treatment.•The PKN treatment inhibited Th2 activity and differentiation via IL-4/STAT6/GATA3 pathway.•PKN may be a suitable treatment forTh2-mediated allergic diseases in the future.