Bencycloquidium bromide inhibits nasal hypersecretion in a rat model of allergic rhinitis

This study is aimed at exploring the effect of Bencycloquidium bromide (BCQB), a novel M1/M3 receptor antagonist, on mucus secretion in a murine model of allergic rhinitis (AR).

Sprague-Dawley rats were sensitized with ovalbumin to induce AR. After BCQB treatment, nasal symptoms were evaluated. Nasal lavage fluid was used to detect the protein level of cytokines and histamine by the method of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The nasal mucosa of all animals was prepared for western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and histochemical analysis.

BCQB could not only alleviate typical AR symptoms including rhinorrhea, nasal itching and sneezing, but also inhibit the overexpression of mucin 5AC at the level of protein and mRNA. The release of histamine, the mRNA and protein level of IL-6, IL-13 and TNF-α, and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB (p65 and p50) were inhibited by BCQB. In addition, histological studies showed BCQB dramatically inhibited ovalbumin-induced nasal lesions, eosinophil infiltration, aggregation of mast cells, globlet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia.

BCQB attenuates mucus hypersecretion in AR, possibly involving in the NF-κB signaling pathway.