POTENT INHIBITORY EFFECT OF TETRANDRINE ON EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS IN MICE

This study investigated the effectiveness of tetrandrine (TDR) on expe rimental allergic conjunctivitis secondary to ragweed pollen. SWR/J mi ce were divided as follows: group 1, normal controls; group 2, sensiti zed but untreated; group 3, sensitized, buffered saline (BS)-treated; and group 4, sensitized, TDR-treated. The last three groups were expos ed to ragweed through topical contact on the nasal and conjunctival mu cosae followed by challenge with the allergen on the conjunctiva. Grou ps 3 and 4 received doses of BS and TDR, respectively. The allergic co njunctivitis was evaluated by scoring of the clinical signs and histop athology, mRNA gene expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and I L-5 in the conjunctiva was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction techn iques. All mice exposed to ragweed developed allergic conjunctivitis c linically and histologically. The conjunctivitis was significantly mod ulated by intraperitoneal injection of a new anti-inflammatory agent, TDR. Histopathologic analysis demonstrated that TDR strikingly reduced the conjunctival eosinophil infiltration and the number of intact and degranulating mast cells. IL-1 beta and IL-5 mRNA gene expression in the conjunctiva of TDR-treated mice was dramatically down-regulated co mpared with untreated and BS-treated controls. The results indicated t hat TDR may have potential clinical use in the treatment of conjunctiv itis.