Hydrogen-generating silicon-based agent is effective in a mouse model of ovalbumin-induced allergic bronchial asthma.

BACKGROUND

Hydrogen therapy, which involves the intake of hydrogen as an antioxidant, has been reported to be effective against various oxidative stress-related diseases. However, current methods of hydrogen administration present various problems. Therefore, new methods that allow for the safe and sustained delivery of high doses of hydrogen are needed. Si-based agents offer a promising solution because they can easily and continuously generate large amounts of hydrogen in the digestive tract. Asthma is characterized by chronic airway inflammation, and allergic bronchial asthma-its most readily recognized phenotype-is suspected to be related to oxidative stress. We investigated the effects of Si-based agents on allergic bronchial asthma.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Allergic bronchial asthma was induced in female C57BL/6N mice by epicutaneous sensitization and inhalation challenge with ovalbumin. Bronchial asthma was assessed by cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung histopathological analysis. mRNA expression levels of cytokines and chemokine in lung tissue and total IgE concentration in serum were measured.

RESULTS

The administration in the diet of this Si-based agent to a model mouse of allergic bronchial asthma significantly suppressed eosinophil counts in the BALF and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs. In addition, the expressions of interleukins 5, and 13 and C-C motif chemokine 11 in lung tissue tended to decreased in the Si group compared with those in the control group. We examined the timing of administration of Si-based agents and found that Si-based agents worked during the sensitization and elicitation phases and tended to decrease the total IgE concentration in serum.

CONCLUSIONS

Si-based agents are effective against allergic bronchial asthma and may serve as superior materials for hydrogen therapy. We anticipate that our study will provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of Si-based agents against type I allergy and facilitate their clinical application in the future.