Introduction and Objectives

Allergic asthma is a complex chronic disease of the respiratory system presenting with cough, dyspnea, wheezing and airway obstruction. More than 300 million people of all age spectrums suffer from asthma worldwide. Immunological and inflammatory processes are main contributors to asthma. Cytokines produced by T helper 2 lymphocytes play main roles in asthma development and progression. Silymarin, a therapeutic agent with anti-oxidative properties, is a main component of Silybium marinum. We herein aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of two silymarin isomers, isosilybin A and silydianin, in the treatment of allergic asthma.

Materials and Methods

After isolating and purifying isosilybin A and silydianin, Balb/c mouse model of allergic asthma was produced using ovalbumin injection. Seventy mice were categorized into five (1 normal and 4 asthmatic) groups (n = 14 per group). Mice in three of four asthmatic groups were treated with either isosilybin A, silydianin or budesonide. The 4th asthmatic group was used as positive control, with the non-asthmatic group serving as negative control. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in the BAL fluid were determined. Gene expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and MUC5ac, as well as IgE serum level were also measured. Cellular composition of BAL fluid and lungs histopathology were finally investigated.

Results

Isosilybin A and silydianin reduced eosinophilic infiltration of lungs, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in BAL fluid, IL-4 and IL-5 gene expressions, as well as AHR in Balb/c mouse model of asthma. However, no significant changes were observed in IL-13 level and mucus hyper-secretion.

Conclusion

According to our study, isosilybin A and silydianin can control main symptoms of asthma by modulating immune responses.

中文翻译：

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两种水飞蓟素异构体在过敏性哮喘 Balb/c 小鼠模型中的免疫调节作用

简介和目标

过敏性哮喘是一种复杂的呼吸系统慢性疾病，表现为咳嗽、呼吸困难、喘息和气道阻塞。全世界有超过 3 亿不同年龄段的人患有哮喘。免疫和炎症过程是哮喘的主要诱因。由 T 辅助 2 淋巴细胞产生的细胞因子在哮喘的发生和进展中起主要作用。水飞蓟素是一种具有抗氧化特性的治疗剂，是水飞蓟的主要成分。我们在此旨在比较两种水飞蓟素异构体异水飞蓟宾 A 和水飞蓟素在治疗过敏性哮喘中的抗炎和抗过敏作用。

材料和方法

分离纯化异水飞蓟宾A和水飞蓟素后，采用卵清蛋白注射液制备Balb/c小鼠过敏性哮喘模型。将 70 只小鼠分为 5 个（1 个正常组和 4 个哮喘组）（每组 n = 14）。四个哮喘组中的三个用异水飞蓟宾 A、水飞蓟宁或布地奈德治疗。第4哮喘组作为阳性对照，非哮喘组作为阴性对照。测定了气道高反应性 (AHR) 和 BAL 液中 IL-4、IL-5 和 IL-13 的水平。还测量了IL-4、IL-5、IL-13和MUC5ac的基因表达，以及IgE血清水平。最后研究了 BAL 液的细胞组成和肺组织病理学。

结果

Isosilybin A 和 silydianin 降低肺嗜酸性粒细胞浸润、BAL 液中 IL-4 和 IL-5 水平、IL-4 和 IL-5 基因表达，以及 Balb/c 小鼠哮喘模型中的 AHR。然而，在 IL-13 水平和粘液过度分泌方面没有观察到显着变化。

结论

根据我们的研究，异水飞蓟宾 A 和水飞蓟素可以通过调节免疫反应来控制哮喘的主要症状。