Cordyceps polysaccharide ameliorates airway inflammation in an ovalbumin-induced mouse model of asthma via TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway

In this study, we established a mouse model of asthma using ovalbumin (OVA) challenge and evaluated the potential regulatory effect of CPS (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) on asthmatic mice. These results showed that the asthmatic mice treated with CPS suppressed the secretion of eotaxin, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and IFN-γ in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and decreased serum IgE levels compared to the vehicle-treated mice. CPS also alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration, goblet cell hyperplasia, and the increases of inflammatory cells in the mouse model of asthma. In addition, OVA-induced AHR was inhibited by CPS treatment. Further analyses of protein expression revealed that CPS inhibited the activation of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad pathway in mice with asthma. These findings indicated that CPS might serve as a potential therapeutic agent for the management of allergic asthma.
Source: Respiratory Physiology and Neurobiology - Category: Respiratory Medicine Source Type: research