1. Academic Validation
  2. Escin inhibits type I allergic dermatitis in a novel porcine model

Escin inhibits type I allergic dermatitis in a novel porcine model

  • Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 2013;161(1):44-52. doi: 10.1159/000343289.
Wolfgang Sipos 1 Benjamin Reutterer Maria Frank Hermann Unger Andreas Grassauer Eva Prieschl-Grassauer Petra Doerfler
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Clinical Department for Farm Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria. wolfgang.sipos@vetmeduni.ac.at
Abstract

Background: Current standard medications for the treatment of allergic inflammation consist primarily of glucocorticoids and anti-histamines, but adverse side effects or insufficient responsiveness by patient subpopulations illustrate the need for safe and novel alternatives. Thus, there is a demand to develop a porcine model that is able to mimic mast cell-mediated type I hypersensitivity. Previously, we found that escin, a pharmacologically active mix of triterpene saponins from horse chestnut extracts, exerts anti-allergic effects in murine models and merits further investigation as an anti-allergic therapeutic.

Methods: We developed a new porcine model of allergic dermatitis based on a clinical prick test protocol. Histamine clearly provoked erythema and swelling at the prick site, whereas the mast cell-degranulating compound 48/80 even more pronounced caused wheal and flare reactions known from the human prick response. This model was used to test the anti-allergic efficacy of orally applied escin.

Results: Oral pretreatment of Animals with escin strongly inhibited the allergic skin response induced by compound 48/80 in a dose-dependent manner. Additional in vitro data from murine mast cells indicate an engagement of the Glucocorticoid Receptor pathway upon treatment with escin.

Conclusions: This model provides a valuable and easy-to-set-up tool for preclinical studies of mast cell-inhibiting compounds. The successful implementation of this model supports the development of oral escin applications as a novel anti-allergic therapy.

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