1
|
Qu QY, Song XY, Lin L, Gong ZH, Xu W, Xiao WJ. L-Theanine Modulates Intestine-Specific Immunity by Regulating the Differentiation of CD4+ T Cells in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Mice. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:14851-14863. [PMID: 36394825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c06171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Ovalbumin (OVA), a common food protein, can cause deadly allergies with intestine-specific immune reactions. L-Theanine (LTA) shows great potential for regulating intestinal immunity. To investigate the regulatory effect of LTA intervention on intestine-specific immunity, a 41 day experiment was performed on BALB/c OVA-sensitized mice. The results show that injecting female mice intraperitoneally with 50 μg of OVA and administering 30 mg of OVA 4 times can successfully establish an OVA-sensitized mouse model. LTA intervention significantly increased weight gain and thymus index (p < 0.05), decreased allergy and diarrhea scores (p < 0.05), and improved jejunum structure. Meanwhile, the histological score and degranulation of mast cells decreased. LTA intervention increased Clostridiales, Lachnospiraceae, Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Ruminococcus abundance while decreasing Helicobacter abundance. Flow cytometry and Western blotting results indicated that 200 and 400 mg/kg of LTA upregulated the expression of T-bet and Foxp3 proteins (p < 0.05), thus promoting the differentiation of jejunum CD4+ T cells to Th1 and Tregs and increasing the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-10, and TGF-β (p < 0.05). We found that 200 and 400 mg/kg of LTA downregulated the expression of RORγt and GATA3, thus inhibiting the differentiation of Th2 and Th17 cells and decreasing cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-17A (p < 0.05). LTA inhibited the degranulation of mast cells and significantly decreased the serum levels of OVA-IgE, HIS, and mouse MCPT-1 (p < 0.05). Therefore, LTA intervention alleviated OVA allergy by improving intestine-specific immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Yun Qu
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Xian-Ying Song
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Ling Lin
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Zhi-Hua Gong
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| | - Wen-Jun Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Tea Science of Ministry of Education, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- National Research Center of Engineering Technology for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
- Co-Innovation Center of Education Ministry for Utilization of Botanical Functional Ingredients, Changsha, Hunan 410128, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ma J, Liu MX, Chen LC, Shen JJ, Kuo ML. Ding Chuan Tang Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Eosinophil Infiltration in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Asthmatic Mice. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:6692772. [PMID: 34595240 PMCID: PMC8478538 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6692772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is a T helper 2 (Th2) cell-associated chronic inflammatory diseases characterized with airway obstruction, increased mucus production, and eosinophil infiltration. Conventional medications for asthma treatment cannot fully control the symptoms, and potential side effects are also the concerns. Thus, complement or alternative medicine (CAM) became a new option for asthma management. Ding Chuan Tang (DCT) is a traditional Chinese herbal decoction applied mainly for patients with coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and asthma. Previously, DCT has been proved to improve children airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in a randomized and double-blind clinical trial. However, the mechanisms of how DCT alleviates AHR remain unclear. Since asthmatic features such as eosinophil infiltration, IgE production, and mucus accumulation are relative with Th2 responses, we hypothesized that DCT may attenuate asthma symptoms through regulating Th2 cells. Ovalbumin (OVA) was used as a stimulant to sensitize BALB/c mice to establish an asthmatic model. AHR was detected one day before sacrifice. BALF and serum were collected for immune cell counting and antibody analysis. Splenocytes were cultured with OVA in order to determine Th2 cytokine production. Lung tissues were collected for histological and gene expression analyses. Our data reveal that DCT can attenuate AHR and eosinophil accumulation in the 30-day sensitization asthmatic model. Histological results demonstrated that DCT can reduce cell infiltration and mucus production in peribronchial and perivascular site. In OVA-stimulated splenocyte cultures, a significant reduction of IL-5 and IL-13 in DCT-treated mice suggests that DCT may alleviate Th2 responses. In conclusion, the current study demonstrates that DCT has the potential to suppress allergic responses through the reduction of mucus production, eosinophil infiltration, and Th2 activity in asthma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jason Ma
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Xun Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chen Chen
- Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jiann-Jong Shen
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ling Kuo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Division of Allergy, Asthma, and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Pediatrics, New Taipei Municipal TuCheng Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, College of Human Ecology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|