Effect of quercetin on Th1/Th2 immune balance in allergic rhinitis mice via regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

WU Xiongying; HU Ting; LI Pengcheng

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20250107

Abstract：Objective To investigate the effect of quercetin(QUE)on the Th1/Th2 immune balance in allergic rhinitis(AR)mice via regulating protein tyrosine kinase 2(JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(STAT3)signaling pathway.Method We selected SPF-grade male BALB/c mice and constructed the AR mouse model through sensitization treatment.Seventy-two mice were randomly divided into the model group,the QUE-L group(50 mg/kg QUE by gavage),the QUE-M group(100 mg/kg QUE by gavage),the QUE-H group(200 mg/kg QUE by gavage),and the QUE-H+JAK2/STAT3 pathway activator Coumermycin A1 Group(200 mg/kg QUE by gavage+tail vein injection of 1 mg/kg Coumermycin A1),and normal mice were taken and only treated with 0.9 sodium chloride injection by intraperitoneal injection and nasal drip as the control group.The histopathological morphology of nasal mucosa in each group of mice was detected by HE staining.The levels of interferon-γ(IFN-γ),interleukin-4(IL-4),immunoglobulin E(IgE),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),interleukin-6(IL-6),and interleukin-8(IL-8)in the serum of mice in each group were detected by ELISA.The apoptosis rate of nasal mucosa tissue cells in each group was determined by the TUNEL method,and the protein expressions of JAK2 and STAT3 in the nasal mucosa tissues of mice in each group were detected by Western blot method.Results Compared with the control group,the model group had disorganized nasal mucosal epithelial cells,vasodilation,accompanied by severe inflammatory cell infiltration,presence of obvious pathological changes and decreased serum IFN-γ level(P<0.05).The levels of serum IL-4,IgE,IL-1β,IL-6,IL-8,the apoptosis rate of nasal mucosa tissue cells,and the protein expressions of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 increased(P<0.05).The nasal mucosal epithelial cells of mice in the QUE-L group,QUE-M group and QUE-H group were arranged neatly compared with those in the model group.Vasodilation and inflammatory cell infiltration were significantly alleviated,the pathological changes were significantly reduced,and the serum IFN-γ level was increased(P<0.05).The levels of serum IL4,IgE,IL-1β,IL-6,and IL-8,the apoptosis rate of nasal mucosal tissue cells,and the protein expressions of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 decreased(P<0.05).Compared with the QUE-H group,the QUE-H+Coumermycin A1 group had aggravated pathological changes,deteriorated inflammation levels and immune imbalance,and increased apoptosis rate of nasal mucosal tissue cells and protein expression in the JAK2/STAT3 pathway(P<0.05).Conclusion QUE may reverse the Th1/Th2 immune imbalance in AR mice by inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.