Diosgenin, a plant-derived sapogenin, enhances regulatory T-cell immunity in the intestine of mice with food allergy.

Abstract

It was hypothesized that the suppressive effect of diosgenin (1) on the intestinal T helper (Th)2 responses is associated with an enhancement of the regulatory T-cell immunity. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were gavaged daily with 1 and received repeatedly oral OVA challenges to induce intestinal allergic responses. The expression of Th2- and Treg-related cytokines and transcription factors was examined by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. Administration of 1 markedly attenuated the intestinal expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and GATA3. In addition, administration of 1 reversed the diminished density of intestinal Foxp3(+) cells induced by OVA oral challenges and enhanced the expression of IL-10 by Foxp3(+) cells markedly. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of 1 on allergen-induced intestinal Th2 responses is closely associated with an up-regulation of the regulatory T-cell immunity in the inflammatory site.

• Authors: Chung-Hsiung Huang, Der-Zen Liu, Tong-Rong Jan
• Journal: Journal of natural products (J Nat Prod) Vol. 73 Issue 6 Pg. 1033-7 (Jun 25 2010) ISSN: 1520-6025 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20465230 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• GATA3 Transcription Factor
• Interleukin-4
• Ovalbumin
• Diosgenin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Allergens (immunology)
• Animals
• Dioscorea (chemistry)
• Diosgenin (pharmacology)
• Food Hypersensitivity (immunology)
• GATA3 Transcription Factor (analysis)
• Interleukin-4 (analysis)
• Intestinal Mucosa (metabolism)
• Intestines (cytology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Ovalbumin (pharmacology)
• Plants, Medicinal (chemistry)
• T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory (immunology, metabolism)
• Th1 Cells (metabolism)
• Th2 Cells (metabolism)