Kujin Suppresses Histamine Signaling at the Transcriptional Level in Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate-Sensitized Rats

Authors Dev, Shrabanti; Mizuguchi, Hiroyuki; Das, Asish K.; Maeyama, Kazutaka; Horinaga, Shiho; Kato, Shuhei; Tamada, Misaki; Hattori, Masashi; Umehara, Hayato; Fukui, Hiroyuki

Journal JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES , ,:

Abstract Kujin, the dried root of Sophorae flavescensis, has been used in Chinese folklore medicine against allergy. Evaluation of its anti-allergic potential as welt as its mechanism of action has rarely been established. We investigated the effect of Kujin oil toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI)-induced allergic behavior and related histamine signaling including mRNA levels of histamine H-1 receptor (H1R) and histidine decarboxylase (HDC), H1R and HDC activities, and histamine content in rat nasal mucosa. We also investigated the effect of Kujin on the mRNA levels of helper T cell type 2 (Th2)-cytokine genes closely related to histamine signaling. TDI provocation caused acute allergic symptoms accompanied with up-regulations of H1R and HDC mRNAs and increases in HDC activity, histamine content, and [H-3]mepyramine binding activity in the nasal mucosa, all of which were significantly Suppressed by pretreatment with Kujin for 3 weeks. Kujin also suppressed the TDI-induced IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA elevations. These data suggest that oral administration of Kujin showed anti-allergic activity through Suppression of histamine signaling by the inhibition of TDI-induced H I R and HDC mRNA elevations followed by decrease in H I R, HDC protein level, and histamine content in the nasal mucosa of TDI-sensitized rats. Suppression of Th2-cytokine signaling by Kujin also suggests that it could affect the histamine-cytokine network.

Species covered 槐属 Sophora