Geniposide inhibits airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a mouse model of asthma

Int Immunopharmacol. 2013 Nov;17(3):561-7. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2013.06.028. Epub 2013 Jul 13.

Abstract

Our group recently reported the strong anti-inflammatory effects of geniposide (Gen), a bioactive iridoid glucoside derived from gardenia jasminoides, in a mouse acute lung injury model. Herein, we hypothesized that Gen might also have potential therapeutic benefits in treatment of asthma, which was tested in a mouse model of ovalbumin (Ova)-induced allergic airway inflammation. Ova-sensitized and -challenged BALB/c mice, as compared with control animals, displayed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia, mucus hypersecretion, and increased T help 2 (Th2)-associated cytokine and chemokine amounts, as well as serum Ova-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) level. Being compared with the Ova-induced hallmarks of asthma, intraperitoneal Gen treatment prevented eosinophilic pulmonary infiltration, attenuated the increases in interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and reduced eotaxin and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression. Also, Gen significantly ameliorated the Ova-driven airway hyperresponsiveness, mucus hypersecretion, and allergen-specific IgE level, which are the cardinal pathophysiological symptoms in allergic airway diseases. In addition, the efficacy of Gen was comparable to that of dexamethasone (Dex), a currently available anti-asthmatic drug. Collectively, our findings reveal that the development of immunoregulatory strategies based on Gen may be considered as an effective adjuvant therapy for allergic asthma.

Keywords: Allergic airway inflammation; Asthma; Geniposide (Gen); Hyperresponsiveness; Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB); Ovalbumin (Ova).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / pathology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / drug therapy*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / pathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / cytology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • Cell Count
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Immunoglobulin E / blood
  • Iridoids / pharmacology
  • Iridoids / therapeutic use*
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / immunology

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Iridoids
  • geniposide
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Ovalbumin