Stigmasterol alleviates allergic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma mice through inhibiting substance-P receptor

Abstract

Context

Stigmasterol has significant anti-arthritis and anti-inflammatory effects, but its role in immune and inflammatory diseases is still unclear.

Objective

The potential advantages of stigmasterol in asthma were explored in IL-13-induced BEAS-2B cells and asthmatic mice.

Materials and methods

The optimal target of stigmasterol was confirmed in asthma. After detecting the cytotoxicity of stigmasterol in BEAS-2B cells, 10 μg/mL and 20 μg/mL stigmasterol were incubated with the BEAS-2B cell model for 48 h, and anti-inflammation and antioxidative stress were verified. Asthmatic mice were induced by OVA and received 100 mg/kg stigmasterol for 7 consecutive days. After 28 days, lung tissues and BAL fluid were collected for the following study. To further verify the role of NK1-R, 0.1 μM WIN62577 (NK1-R specific antagonist), and 1 μM recombinant human NK1-R protein were applied.

Results

NK1-R was the potential target of stigmasterol. When the concentration of stigmasterol is 20 μg/mL, the survival rate of BEAS-2B cells is about 98.4%, which is non-toxic. Stigmasterol exerted anti-inflammation and antioxidant stress in a dose-dependent manner and decreased NK1-R expression in IL-13-induced BEAS-2B. Meanwhile, in vivo assay also indicated the anti-inflammation and antioxidant stress of stigmasterol after OVA challenge. Stigmasterol inhibited inflammation infiltration and mucus hypersecretion, and NK1-R expression.

Discussion and Conclusions

The protective effect of stigmaterol on asthma and its underlying mechanism have been discussed in depth, providing a theoretical basis and more possibilities for its treatment of asthma.

Keywords:

• Inflammation response
• oxidative stress
• mucus hypersecretion

Author contributions

Individual contributions of all authors were listed as follows: Jimei Zhang: Conceptualization, Acquisition of data and analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Writing original draft. Chonghong Zhang: Conceptualization, Acquisition of data and analysis, Project administration. Li Miao: Conceptualization, Methodology, Project administration. Zimin Meng: Conceptualization, Project administration. Ning Gu: Conceptualization, Methodology, Project administration. Guifang Song: Conceptualization, Review & editing original draft. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declared that there are no competing interests.

Data availability statement

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.