The protective effect of Sargassum horneri against particulate matter-induced inflammation in lung tissues of an in vivo mouse asthma model

Food Funct. 2019 Dec 11;10(12):7995-8004. doi: 10.1039/c9fo02068c.

Abstract

Sargassum horneri is an edible brown seaweed with potential anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was designed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory properties of S. horneri using an in vivo mouse asthma model following exposure to particulate matter (PM). 7-8 week old BALB/c mice (20-25 g) were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 4) as follows: 1: no treatment, 2: OVA (ovalbumin) + PM, 3: OVA + PM + SHE (S. horneri ethanol extract) 200 mg kg-1, 4: OVA + PM + SHE 400 mg kg-1, 5: OVA + PM + prednisone 5 mg kg-1, 6: OVA only, and 7: PM only. All mice (except healthy controls) were sensitized on the first day by intraperitoneal injection of 10 μg OVA and 2 mg Al(OH)3 in 200 μL of saline. Starting from day 15, mice (except groups 1 and 6) were exposed to sonicated PM (5 mg m-3, 30 min day-1) through a nebulizer daily for 7 consecutive days. Mice exposed to PM and OVA showed up-regulated expression of MAPKs and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in the lungs. Furthermore, PM-exposed lungs had significantly reduced expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 genes. However, oral administration of the SHE reduced the phosphorylation levels of MAPKs, iNOS and COX2 expression levels, and mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, SHE treated group mice had up-regulated anti-oxidant gene expression levels in the lungs compared to group 2. These findings demonstrate that oral administration of the SHE re-establishes PM-induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the lungs. Taken together, the SHE has therapeutic potential in preventing PM-induced inflammation and oxidative stress.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Asthma / etiology
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / prevention & control*
  • Cytokines
  • Female
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / genetics
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / immunology
  • Lung / drug effects
  • Lung / immunology
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / genetics
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / immunology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / genetics
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / immunology
  • Particulate Matter / adverse effects*
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protective Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Sargassum / chemistry*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Membrane Proteins
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
  • Particulate Matter
  • Plant Extracts
  • Protective Agents
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Hmox1 protein, mouse