Diosgenin, a plant-derived sapogenin, enhances regulatory T-cell immunity in the intestine of mice with food allergy

J Nat Prod. 2010 Jun 25;73(6):1033-7. doi: 10.1021/np900690z.

Abstract

It was hypothesized that the suppressive effect of diosgenin (1) on the intestinal T helper (Th)2 responses is associated with an enhancement of the regulatory T-cell immunity. Ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were gavaged daily with 1 and received repeatedly oral OVA challenges to induce intestinal allergic responses. The expression of Th2- and Treg-related cytokines and transcription factors was examined by immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. Administration of 1 markedly attenuated the intestinal expression of interleukin (IL)-4 and GATA3. In addition, administration of 1 reversed the diminished density of intestinal Foxp3(+) cells induced by OVA oral challenges and enhanced the expression of IL-10 by Foxp3(+) cells markedly. These results suggest that the suppressive effect of 1 on allergen-induced intestinal Th2 responses is closely associated with an up-regulation of the regulatory T-cell immunity in the inflammatory site.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Allergens / immunology
  • Animals
  • Dioscorea / chemistry
  • Diosgenin / pharmacology*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / immunology*
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor / analysis
  • Interleukin-4 / analysis
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism
  • Intestines / cytology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Ovalbumin / pharmacology
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / metabolism
  • Th1 Cells / metabolism
  • Th2 Cells / metabolism

Substances

  • Allergens
  • GATA3 Transcription Factor
  • Interleukin-4
  • Ovalbumin
  • Diosgenin