Shan Xu1, Yong-Gang Kong1, Wo-Er Jiao1, Rui Yang1, Yue-Long Qiao1, Yu Xu2, Ze-Zhang Tao2, Shi-Ming Chen3. 1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jie-Fang Road, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, PR China. 2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jie-Fang Road, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, PR China; Institute of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jie-Fang Road, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, PR China. 3. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jie-Fang Road, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, PR China; Institute of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, 238 Jie-Fang Road, Wuhan 430060, Hubei, PR China. Electronic address: shimingchen0468@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tangeretin demonstrates broad anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to assess whether tangeretin functions in regulating T-regulatory cells (Tregs) and alleviating allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR animal model was constructed to monitor the changes in the allergic symptom score, OVA-specific IgE titers, histopathological characteristics and T-helper cell (Th1, Th2, and Th17)-related cytokine levels under tangeretin or dexamethasone (DXM) administration. The expression levels of Notch1/Jagged1 and FOXP3, and the proportion of Tregs in the spleens of these animals, were also detected. Furthermore, purified naive CD4 + T cells were utilized to assess the effects of tangeretin on Notch1 expression and their differentiation in vitro. RESULTS: Both tangeretin and DXM administration alleviated airway inflammation, decreased the production of serum OVA-induced IgE, but only tangeretin administration restored the balance of cytokine profiles compared with those in the AR group. The abundance of splenic CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + Treg cells and the transcription factor FOXP3 were significantly increased under tangeretin treatment, either in AR mice or in naïve CD4 + T-cell differentiation, followed by a concomitant reduction in Notch1/Jagged1 expression. However, as a positive control, the treatment of allergic rhinitis with dexamethasone was not related to the expression of Notch1/Jagged1 or the differentiation of Treg cells. CONCLUSION: Tangeretin could promote regulatory T cell responses by inhibiting Notch1/Jagged1 expression, followed by promoting FOXP3/Treg cell differentiation and thus could serve as a novel curative therapeutic for AR.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:Tangeretin demonstrates broad anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to assess whether tangeretin functions in regulating T-regulatory cells (Tregs) and alleviating allergic rhinitis (AR). METHODS: An ovalbumin (OVA)-induced AR animal model was constructed to monitor the changes in the allergic symptom score, OVA-specific IgE titers, histopathological characteristics and T-helper cell (Th1, Th2, and Th17)-related cytokine levels under tangeretin or dexamethasone (DXM) administration. The expression levels of Notch1/Jagged1 and FOXP3, and the proportion of Tregs in the spleens of these animals, were also detected. Furthermore, purified naive CD4 + T cells were utilized to assess the effects of tangeretin on Notch1 expression and their differentiation in vitro. RESULTS: Both tangeretin and DXM administration alleviated airway inflammation, decreased the production of serum OVA-induced IgE, but only tangeretin administration restored the balance of cytokine profiles compared with those in the AR group. The abundance of splenic CD4 + CD25 + FOXP3 + Treg cells and the transcription factor FOXP3 were significantly increased under tangeretin treatment, either in AR mice or in naïve CD4 + T-cell differentiation, followed by a concomitant reduction in Notch1/Jagged1 expression. However, as a positive control, the treatment of allergic rhinitis with dexamethasone was not related to the expression of Notch1/Jagged1 or the differentiation of Treg cells. CONCLUSION:Tangeretin could promote regulatory T cell responses by inhibiting Notch1/Jagged1 expression, followed by promoting FOXP3/Treg cell differentiation and thus could serve as a novel curative therapeutic for AR.