ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: It remains unknown whether local inhibition of Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) could have therapeutic value in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). This study aimed to evaluate the effect of selective NF-κB inhibition using NF-κB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) for the local treatment of AR in ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized wild-type mice. METHODS: BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA and alum, and then challenged intranasally with OVA. NF-κB decoy ODNs were given intranasally to the treatment group, and NF-κB scrambled ODNs were given to the sham treatment group. Allergic symptom scores, eosinophil infiltration, cytokine levels in the nasal mucosa, nasal lavage fluid, and spleen cell culture, serum total and OVA-specific immunoglobulins, as well as intercellular adhesion molecure-1 (ICAM-1) in the nasal mucosa, were analyzed. RESULTS: NF-κB decoy ODNs significantly reduced allergic symptoms and eosinophil infiltration in the nasal mucosa. They also suppressed serum levels of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, and IgG1. IL-5 and TNF-α levels and the expression of ICAM-1 were decreased in the nasal mucosa of the treatment group compared to the positive control and sham treatment groups. In addition, IL-6 levels were significantly decreased in the nasal lavage fluid of the treatment group. Furthermore, NF-κB decoy ODNs significantly reduced expression of the systemic Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-5 in spleen cell culture. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that local NF-κB inhibition using NF-κB decoy ODNs suppressed the allergic response in a murine AR model. This shows the therapeutic potential of local NF-κB inhibition in the control of AR.