Amelioration of late asthmatic bronchial-bronchiolar lesions in BALB/c mice by kurozu moromi powder

Abstract The preventive effect of the development of bronchial-bronchiolar lesions of the late asthmatic response (LAR), a T helper (Th)2 type immune response, in BALB/c mice kurozu moromi powder (kmp) was examined. Mice were pre-treated with or without (control) kmp intra-gastrically for 30 days (50 mg/kg/day) and LAR was induced by ovalbumin (OVA). Compared to the control group, it was recognizable that kmp resulted in reduction of the IgE values and the number of eosinophils, but not lymphocytes, in the blood. Also, the kmp treatment increased significantly in a production of OVA-specific interferon (IFN)-γ from splenic cells. On the other hand, there was no difference in the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 between two groups. The control group showed severe bronchial-bronchiolar inflammation, such as goblet cell hyperplasia with prominent mucous secretion, infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes, and hypertrophy of smooth muscle in bronchial-bronchiolar walls. These changes were less sev...