Luteolin restored Treg/Th17 balance to ameliorate allergic rhinitis in a mouse model

Abstract

Objective

Luteolin (LO) has been reported to be a potential drug for allergic rhinitis (AR). This paper explored the mechanism of LO in AR.

Materials and methods

Mice were treated with ovalbumin (OVA) to construct an AR model in vivo before LO or 3-methyladenine (3-MA) treatment. The frequency of nasal sneezing was counted. The nasal mucosa thickness was assessed by hematoxylin–eosin staining assay. The levels of anti-OVA-immunoglobulin E (IgE)/IgG2a, autophagy-related factors (Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I), and T helper cell 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) markers (interleukin (IL)-17A, retinoic acid receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt)/IL-10, forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)) were detected through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, western blot, and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Flow cytometry assay was performed to test the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells.

Results

The nasal sneezing frequency, nasal mucosa thickness, and levels of anti-OVA-IgE, Beclin1, LC3II/LC3I, IL-17A as well as RORγt were enhanced whereas anti-OVA-IgG2a, IL-10, and Foxp3 levels were inhibited in a mouse model of OVA-induced AR, which were reversed by LO or 3-MA treatment.

Conclusions

LO restored Treg/Th17 balance to ameliorate AR in a mouse model.

Keywords:

• Luteolin
• allergic rhinitis
• Treg/Th17
• autophagy
• ovalbumin

Author contributions

Substantial contributions to conception and design: Yuping Yang and Lingling Wang; data acquisition, data analysis, and interpretation: Song Wang, Yan Wang, and Yunqiang Du; drafting the article or critically revising it for important intellectual content: Yuping Yang; final approval of the version to be published: Yuping Yang, Lingling Wang, Song Wang, Yan Wang, Yunqiang Du, and Yuqin Fan; agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved: Yuping Yang, Lingling Wang, Song Wang, Yan Wang, Yunqiang Du, and Yuqin Fan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

The analyzed data sets generated during the study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region [2019D01C321].