Protective Effects of Licochalcone A Improve Airway Hyper-Responsiveness and Oxidative Stress in a Mouse Model of Asthma.

Abstract

Licochalcone A was isolated from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and previously reported to have antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects. Licochalcone A has also been found to inhibit the levels of Th2-associated cytokines in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of asthmatic mice. However, the molecular mechanism underlying airway inflammation and how licochalcone A regulates oxidative stress in asthmatic mice are elusive. In this study, we investigated whether licochalcone A could attenuate inflammatory and oxidative responses in tracheal epithelial cells, and whether it could ameliorate oxidative stress and airway inflammation in asthmatic mice. Inflammatory human tracheal epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells were treated with licochalcone A to evaluate oxidative responses and inflammatory cytokine levels. In addition, BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and injected intraperitoneally with licochalcone A (5 or 10 mg/kg). Licochalcone A significantly inhibited reactive oxygen species, eotaxin, and proinflammatory cytokines in BEAS-2B cells. Licochalcone A also decreased intercellular adhesion molecule 1 levels in inflammatory BEAS-2B cells, blocking monocyte cell adherence. We also found that licochalcone A significantly decreased oxidative responses, reduced malondialdehyde levels, and increased glutathione levels in the lungs of OVA-sensitized mice. Furthermore, licochalcone A decreased airway hyper-responsiveness, eosinophil infiltration, and Th2 cytokine production in the BALF. These findings suggest that licochalcone A alleviates oxidative stress, inflammation, and pathological changes by inhibiting Th2-associated cytokines in asthmatic mice and human tracheal epithelial cells. Thus, licochalcone A demonstrated therapeutic potential for improving asthma.

• Authors: Wen-Chung Huang, Chien-Yu Liu, Szu-Chuan Shen, Li-Chen Chen, Kuo-Wei Yeh, Shih-Hai Liu, Chian-Jiun Liou
• Journal: Cells (Cells) Vol. 8 Issue 6 (06 20 2019) ISSN: 2073-4409 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 31226782 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Chalcones
• Chemokines
• Inflammation Mediators
• Protective Agents
• Reactive Oxygen Species
• Malondialdehyde
• Ovalbumin
• Collagen
• Cyclooxygenase 2
• Glutathione
• licochalcone A

Topics

• Animals
• Antibody Specificity
• Asthma (complications, drug therapy, pathology)
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (cytology)
• Cell Adhesion (drug effects)
• Chalcones (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Chemokines (metabolism)
• Collagen (metabolism)
• Cyclooxygenase 2 (metabolism)
• DNA Damage
• Disease Models, Animal
• Eosinophils (drug effects, pathology)
• Female
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Goblet Cells (drug effects, pathology)
• Humans
• Hyperplasia
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Lung (metabolism, pathology)
• Malondialdehyde (metabolism)
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Ovalbumin
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Protective Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)
• Respiratory Hypersensitivity (complications, drug therapy)
• THP-1 Cells