Sopoongsan inhibits mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions and inflammatory cytokine secretion

Mast cells are key effector cells in the early-phase allergic inflammation and in diverse immunological and pathological processes. Sopoongsan (SPS), a traditional Korean medicine, has been used as therapeutics for allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis (AD). The precise effect in experimental models of SPS, however, remains unknown. In this report, we investigated the effect of SPS on mast cell-mediated anaphylactic reactions and cytokine production in in vivo and in vitro murine models.

Compound 48/80-induced histamine and ear swelling were measured with the various concentrations of SPS. The amount of dye was determined colorimetrically after antidinitrophenyl IgE antibody-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. Secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-6 in supernatants from HMC-1 cells was measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression level of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB/Rel A in the nucleus and the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were examined by Western blot analysis.

SPS inhibited the degranulation and histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80. Compound 48/80-induced ear swelling was significantly reduced. SPS also showed an inhibitory effect of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction. Significantly reduced levels (p < 0.05) of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and IL-6 were observed in the human mast cell line with SPS and SPS components. In addition, SPS inhibited an increase of NF-kappaB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activity.

These findings suggest that SPS has an inhibitory effect on atopic allergic reaction and this might be useful for the clinical application to treat allergic diseases such as AD.