ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic asthma is a complex chronic disease of the respiratory system presenting with cough, dyspnea, wheezing and airway obstruction. More than 300 million people of all age spectrums suffer from asthma worldwide. Immunological and inflammatory processes are main contributors to asthma. Cytokines produced by T helper 2 lymphocytes play main roles in asthma development and progression. Silymarin, a therapeutic agent with anti-oxidative properties, is a main component of Silybium marinum. We herein aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects of two silymarin isomers, isosilybin A and silydianin, in the treatment of allergic asthma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After isolating and purifying isosilybin A and silydianin, Balb/c mouse model of allergic asthma was produced using ovalbumin injection. Seventy mice were categorized into five (1 normal and 4 asthmatic) groups (n = 14 per group). Mice in three of four asthmatic groups were treated with either isosilybin A, silydianin or budesonide. The 4th asthmatic group was used as positive control, with the non-asthmatic group serving as negative control. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 in the BAL fluid were determined. Gene expressions of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and MUC5ac, as well as IgE serum level were also measured. Cellular composition of BAL fluid and lungs histopathology were finally investigated. RESULTS: Isosilybin A and silydianin reduced eosinophilic infiltration of lungs, IL-4 and IL-5 levels in BAL fluid, IL-4 and IL-5 gene expressions, as well as AHR in Balb/c mouse model of asthma. However, no significant changes were observed in IL-13 level and mucus hyper-secretion. CONCLUSION: According to our study, isosilybin A and silydianin can control main symptoms of asthma by modulating immune responses
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Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Silymarin/analogs & derivatives , Immunomodulation/drug effects , Asthma/drug therapy , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Allergic Agents/pharmacology , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Asthma/immunology , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/immunology , Cytokines/analysis , Gene Expression , Immunoglobulin E/blood , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Treatment Outcome , Reproducibility of ResultsABSTRACT
During a survey of soil nematodes in Iran, three species of predatory nematodes, including a new species of the genus Mylonchulus Cobb, 1916 were recovered. Mylonchulus kermaniensis sp. n. is characterised by its body length (1.2-1.4 mm), six rows of rasp-like denticles, the sixth line consisting of four denticles, female tail slightly sigmoid, sharply bent ventrad with digitate posterior portion slightly but clearly bent dorsad, (37-49 µm long, c=27.9-38.9, c'=1.2-1.7) with a terminal opening of spinneret. Two advulval papillae present, one is pre-vulval and the other one is located posterior to vulva. Furthermore, two other mononchid species namely M. cf. hawaiiensis (Cassidy, 1931) Goodey, 1951 and Mononchus truncatus Bastian, 1865 were also recovered from soil in the province of Kerman, Iran, the former representing a new geographical record for Iran. Measurements and illustration are provided for these three species. Molecular study of 18S rDNA region of M. cf. hawaiiensis demonstrated that the Iranian population compared with the nearest populations identified as M. hawaiiensis from Japan, shows 5 to 8 nucleotide differences. In addition, phylogeny of Mylonchulus is discussed and a checklist of the species of Mononchida from Iran is provided.
