Ce between Th1 and Th2 cells, The functions of IL-12 have been fairly well characterized; however, the role of INF-c in asthma has been controversial. Although Caenorhabditis order GSK864 elegans extract was reported to ameliorate asthma symptoms by increasing INF-c expression, hydrocortisone, which is used to treat asthma, has been shown to decrease INF-c expression [28]. Previous studies have reported elevated INF-c levels in the BALF and bronchioles of asthma patients [29,30]. In addition, airway hyperresponsiveness 25033180 after methacholine challenge was more severe in IFN-c transgenic mice than in normal mice [31]. Our finding that ACA decreased INF-c expression in OVAinduced asthma suggests that ACA suppresses Th1-related cytokines as well as Th2 cytokines. Although steroids cause a variety of adverse effects, they can inhibit proinflammatory responses and induce anti-inflammatory gene expression. Asthma therapies that target multiple pathways are more likely to be effective than therapies that modulate a single target, because asthmatic reactions are mediated by numerous immune and inflammatory pathways. Because ACA inhibits various proinflammatory cytokines, it shows promise as an antiasthmatic drug candidate.ACA Inhibits Asthma by Cytokines ModulationFigure 2. ACA dose-dependently inhibited histopathological GW610742 web changes in the lungs of mice with OVA-induced asthma. (a) ACA dosedependently reduced inflammatory cell infiltration around vessels and bronchioles, mucus secretion and cell debris in bronchioles, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the lungs. Bar size, 50 mm; hematoxylin and eosin stain. (b) ACA dose-dependently decreased bronchial secretion of glycoproteins in OVA-induced asthma. Bar size, 50 mm; PAS stain. Arrow: inflammatory cell infiltration. Br, bronchiole; Gc, goblet cell; M, mucus secretion; V, vessel. A, vehicle control; B, OVA-induced asthma model; C, dexamethasone; D, 25 mg/kg/day ACA; E, 50 mg/kg/day ACA. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056447.gMaterials and Methods Plant materialDried A. galanga rhizomes were purchased from Dermalab, Gyeonggi, Korea in May 2010. A voucher sample was deposited at the Center for Senior Industry of the Youngdong University (identification number: YD1202).Isolation of ACAThe dried A. galanga rhizomes (3 kg) were chopped and then extracted twice with 90 aqueous methanol (15 L) in a shaker (90 rpm) at 30uC for 2 days. The methanol extracts were combined and concentrated under vacuum, suspended in water (700 mL), and then extracted four times with 300 mL ethylacetate. The ethyl acetate layer was concentrated, yielding a brown oily substance (69 g), which was chromatographed on a silica gel column (230?00 mesh, 150 id6400 mm) by stepwise elution with methylene chloride and methanol mixtures of increasing polarity, yielding 12 fractions by thin layer chromatography monitoring. Fraction 2 (22 g) was further purified by highperformance liquid chromatography (YMC-Pack Pro C-18 column, S-5 mm, 20 id6250 mm; 40 ?0 aqueous acetonitrile for 90 min, 7 mL/min) to yield 19.5 g ACA with .98 purity. ACA (Figure 6) is a colorless oil: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (CD3OD, 400 MHz): d 7.37 (2H, d, J = 8.6 Hz), 7.09 (2H, d, J = 8.6 Hz), 6.23 (1H, d, J = 6.0 Hz), 6.02 (1H, ddd, J = 17.2, 10.4, 6.0 Hz), 5.28 (1H, dd, J = 17.2, 1.2 Hz), 5.23 (1H, d, J = 10.4, 1.2 Hz), 2.26 (3H, s), 2.08 (3H, s); 13C nuclear magnetic resonanceACA Inhibits Asthma by Cytokines ModulationFigure 3. ACA suppressed T cells but not B cells in mice with OVA.Ce between Th1 and Th2 cells, The functions of IL-12 have been fairly well characterized; however, the role of INF-c in asthma has been controversial. Although Caenorhabditis elegans extract was reported to ameliorate asthma symptoms by increasing INF-c expression, hydrocortisone, which is used to treat asthma, has been shown to decrease INF-c expression [28]. Previous studies have reported elevated INF-c levels in the BALF and bronchioles of asthma patients [29,30]. In addition, airway hyperresponsiveness 25033180 after methacholine challenge was more severe in IFN-c transgenic mice than in normal mice [31]. Our finding that ACA decreased INF-c expression in OVAinduced asthma suggests that ACA suppresses Th1-related cytokines as well as Th2 cytokines. Although steroids cause a variety of adverse effects, they can inhibit proinflammatory responses and induce anti-inflammatory gene expression. Asthma therapies that target multiple pathways are more likely to be effective than therapies that modulate a single target, because asthmatic reactions are mediated by numerous immune and inflammatory pathways. Because ACA inhibits various proinflammatory cytokines, it shows promise as an antiasthmatic drug candidate.ACA Inhibits Asthma by Cytokines ModulationFigure 2. ACA dose-dependently inhibited histopathological changes in the lungs of mice with OVA-induced asthma. (a) ACA dosedependently reduced inflammatory cell infiltration around vessels and bronchioles, mucus secretion and cell debris in bronchioles, and goblet cell hyperplasia in the lungs. Bar size, 50 mm; hematoxylin and eosin stain. (b) ACA dose-dependently decreased bronchial secretion of glycoproteins in OVA-induced asthma. Bar size, 50 mm; PAS stain. Arrow: inflammatory cell infiltration. Br, bronchiole; Gc, goblet cell; M, mucus secretion; V, vessel. A, vehicle control; B, OVA-induced asthma model; C, dexamethasone; D, 25 mg/kg/day ACA; E, 50 mg/kg/day ACA. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0056447.gMaterials and Methods Plant materialDried A. galanga rhizomes were purchased from Dermalab, Gyeonggi, Korea in May 2010. A voucher sample was deposited at the Center for Senior Industry of the Youngdong University (identification number: YD1202).Isolation of ACAThe dried A. galanga rhizomes (3 kg) were chopped and then extracted twice with 90 aqueous methanol (15 L) in a shaker (90 rpm) at 30uC for 2 days. The methanol extracts were combined and concentrated under vacuum, suspended in water (700 mL), and then extracted four times with 300 mL ethylacetate. The ethyl acetate layer was concentrated, yielding a brown oily substance (69 g), which was chromatographed on a silica gel column (230?00 mesh, 150 id6400 mm) by stepwise elution with methylene chloride and methanol mixtures of increasing polarity, yielding 12 fractions by thin layer chromatography monitoring. Fraction 2 (22 g) was further purified by highperformance liquid chromatography (YMC-Pack Pro C-18 column, S-5 mm, 20 id6250 mm; 40 ?0 aqueous acetonitrile for 90 min, 7 mL/min) to yield 19.5 g ACA with .98 purity. ACA (Figure 6) is a colorless oil: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (CD3OD, 400 MHz): d 7.37 (2H, d, J = 8.6 Hz), 7.09 (2H, d, J = 8.6 Hz), 6.23 (1H, d, J = 6.0 Hz), 6.02 (1H, ddd, J = 17.2, 10.4, 6.0 Hz), 5.28 (1H, dd, J = 17.2, 1.2 Hz), 5.23 (1H, d, J = 10.4, 1.2 Hz), 2.26 (3H, s), 2.08 (3H, s); 13C nuclear magnetic resonanceACA Inhibits Asthma by Cytokines ModulationFigure 3. ACA suppressed T cells but not B cells in mice with OVA.
