Oleanolic acid controls allergic and inflammatory responses in experimental allergic conjunctivitis

PLoS One. 2014 Apr 3;9(4):e91282. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091282. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Pollen is the most common aeroallergen to cause seasonal conjunctivitis. The result of allergen exposure is a strong Th2-mediated response along with conjunctival mast cell degranulation and eosinophilic infiltration. Oleanolic acid (OA) is natural a triterpene that displays strong anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties being an active anti-allergic molecule on hypersensitivity reaction models. However, its effect on inflammatory ocular disorders including conjunctivitis, has not yet been addressed. Hence, using a Ragweed pollen (RWP)-specific allergic conjunctivitis (EAC) mouse model we study here whether OA could modify responses associated to allergic processes. We found that OA treatment restricted mast cell degranulation and infiltration of eosinophils in conjunctival tissue and decreased allergen-specific Igs levels in EAC mice. Th2-type cytokines, secreted phospholipase A2 type-IIA (sPLA2-IIA), and chemokines levels were also significantly diminished in the conjunctiva and serum of OA-treated EAC mice. Moreover, OA treatment also suppressed RWP-specific T-cell proliferation. In vitro studies, on relevant cells of the allergic process, revealed that OA reduced the proliferative and migratory response, as well as the synthesis of proinflammatory mediators on EoL-1 eosinophils and RBL-2H3 mast cells exposed to allergic and/or crucial inflammatory stimuli such as RWP, sPLA2-IIA or eotaxin. Taken together, these findings demonstrate the beneficial activity of OA in ocular allergic processes and may provide a new intervention strategy and potential therapy for allergic diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Allergens / toxicity
  • Animals
  • Anti-Allergic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Conjunctiva / cytology
  • Conjunctiva / drug effects*
  • Conjunctiva / immunology
  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic / drug therapy*
  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic / etiology
  • Conjunctivitis, Allergic / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Eosinophils / cytology
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Immunization
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Mast Cells / cytology
  • Mast Cells / drug effects
  • Mast Cells / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Animal*
  • Oleanolic Acid / pharmacology*
  • Pollen / toxicity

Substances

  • Allergens
  • Anti-Allergic Agents
  • Cytokines
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Oleanolic Acid

Grants and funding

The study was supported by grants from the Spanish MINECO (reference SAF2009-08407). Patricia Gallego-Muñoz and Claudia Cordova were funded by the FPI Program from the Government of Castilla y León (co-funded by FSE). Rubén Martín was supported by the Sara Borrell Program from the Spanish MINECO. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.