Aryl hydrocarbon receptor modulates airway inflammation in mice with cockroach allergen-induced asthma by regulating Th17/Treg differentiation

Nan Fang Yi Ke Da Xue Xue Bao. 2021 May 20;41(5):716-721. doi: 10.12122/j.issn.1673-4254.2021.05.12.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: To investigate whether aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulates cockroach allergen (CRE)-induced asthma by regulating Th17/Treg differentiation.OBJECTIVE: Mouse models of CRE-induced asthma established by sensitizing and challenging the mice with CRE were randomized into asthma model group, AhR agonist group treated with TCDD (10 μg/ kg), and AhR antagonist group treated with TCDD and CH223191 (10 mg/kg) (n=5), with 5 mice without CRE challenge as the control group. The expressions of AhR, Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 mRNA in the lung tissues of the mice were detected using RT-PCR, and pulmonary inflammation was evaluated with immumohistochemical staining. The expressions of inflammatory cytokines in the lungs were detected using ELISA, and the expression of Treg in the lung tissues and pulmonary lymph nodes was analyzed with flow cytometry.OBJECTIVE: Both TCDD and CH223191 were capable of modulating pulmonary expressions of AhR and its downstream genes Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 in asthmatic mice (P < 0.002). TCDD treatment significantly decreased inflammatory cells and mucus production in the lungs of asthmatic mice, and BALFs from TCDD-treated mice with CRE challenge contained lowered levels of the proinflammatory factors including IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17A (P < 0.001) but increased anti-inflammatory factors including IL-10, IL-22 and TGF-β1 (P < 0.001). All these ch...
Source: Journal of Southern Medical University - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Source Type: research