Polysaccharide isolated from Aloe vera gel suppresses ovalbumin-induced food allergy through inhibition of Th2 immunity in mice.

Abstract

An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to harmless substance called allergen that gains access to the body. Food allergy is a hypersensitive immune reaction to food proteins and the number of patients with food allergy has recently increased. Aloe Vera is used for wellness and medicinal purposes. In particular, Aloe vera has been reported to enhance immunity. However, the effect of Aloe vera on food allergy is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the effects of processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) containing low molecular weight Aloe polysaccharide (AP) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy in mice. Allergic symptoms, rectal temperature, and diarrhea were measured in OVA-induced food allergy mice. Other allergic parameters were also analyzed by RT-PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, and other biochemical methods. As the results, PAG suppressed the decrease of body temperature, diarrhea, and allergic symptoms in OVA-induced food allergy mice. PAG also reduced serum concentrations of type 2 helper T cell (Th2) cytokines (Interleukin-(IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13) as well as histamine, mast cell protease-1 (MCP-1), and immunoglobulin (Ig)E. PAG blocked the degranulation of mast cells and infiltration of eosinophils in intestine. Furthermore, PAG suppressed the population of Th2 cells in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. PAG also increased the production of IL-10 and population of type 1 regulatory T (Tr1) cells in mice with food allergy. Taken together, our findings suggest that PAG suppressed Th2 immune responses through, at least partially, stimulating the secretion of IL-10 in food allergy mice.

• Authors: Dajeong Lee, Hyuk Soon Kim, Eunju Shin, Seon-Gil Do, Chong-Kil Lee, Young Mi Kim, Min Bum Lee, Keun Young Min, Jimo Koo, Su Jeong Kim, Seung Taek Nam, Hyun Woo Kim, Young Hwan Park, Wahn Soo Choi
• Journal: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie (Biomed Pharmacother) Vol. 101 Pg. 201-210 (May 2018) ISSN: 1950-6007 [Electronic] France
• PMID: 29494957 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Aloe vera gel
• Cytokines
• Plant Preparations
• Polysaccharides
• Immunoglobulin E
• Ovalbumin

Topics

• Animals
• Cytokines (immunology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Food Hypersensitivity (immunology, prevention & control)
• Immunoglobulin E (immunology)
• Intestines (immunology)
• Mast Cells (immunology)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Ovalbumin (immunology)
• Plant Preparations (chemistry)
• Polysaccharides (isolation & purification, pharmacology)
• Spleen (immunology)
• Th2 Cells (immunology)