SUMMARYA rise in interleukin (IL) 4-dependent immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a hallmark of the mercuric chloride (HgCl 2 )-induced Th2-mediated autoimmune syndrome in the Brown Norway (BN) rat, and one of the mediators in allergic asthma in human. Oxidative stress, a potential factor related to the pathogenesis of allergy and asthma, has been shown to up-regulate IL-4 in mast cells and predispose to degranulation in vitro . However, it remains unknown whether oxidative/antioxidative imbalance plays a role in this Th2-driven model of autoimmunity in the rat. Here we show that administration of the non-sulphydrylcontaining antioxidant desferrioxamine i.p. and s.c. to BN rats reduces HgCl 2 -enhanced IL-4 gene expression and inhibits HgCl 2 -induced Th2-mediated autoimmunity. Desferrioxamine treatment suppresses significantly IgE production and lymphoproliferation, and reduces tissue injury in the form of caecal vasculitis in the HgCl 2 -induced autoimmune syndrome. These results support a role for oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of the HgCl 2 -induced Th2-dominated autoimmune syndrome. This finding might have implications for understanding the mechanisms involved in Th2 cell responses as seen in allergy and asthma and thereby aid the development of new therapeutic strategies for these diseases.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.