Dietary Pulverized Konjac Glucomannan Suppresses Scratching Behavior and Skin Inflammatory Immune Responses in NC/Nga Mice

Vol. 144, No. 2, 2007

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Original Paper

Dietary Pulverized Konjac Glucomannan Suppresses Scratching Behavior and Skin Inflammatory Immune Responses in NC/Nga Mice
Nobukazu Onishi^{a, b}, Seiji Kawamoto^b, Hidenori Suzuki^c, Hiroyuki Santo^b, Tsunehiro Aki^b, Seiko Shigeta^b, Kunihiko Hashimoto^a, Michihiro Hide^c, Kazuhisa Ono^b

^aDepartment of Research and Development, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd.,
^bDepartment of Molecular Biotechnology, Graduate School of Advanced Sciences of Matter and
^cDepartment of Dermatology, Division of Molecular Medical Science, Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2007;144:95-104 (DOI: 10.1159/000103220)

Key Words

Atopic dermatitis
NC/Nga mice
Scratching behavior
Mast cells
Substance P
Skin immune response
Konjac glucomannan

Abstract

Background: Feeding with pulverized konjac glucomannan (PKGM) suppresses the development of eczema and hyper-IgE production in NC/Nga mice, a model of atopic dermatitis. This study aimed to examine the effects of PKGM on scratching behavior and skin inflammatory immune responses in NC/Nga mice. Methods: Four-week-old NC/Nga mice were maintained for 8 or 9 weeks on diet containing PKGM. Scratching behavior and clinical symptoms were evaluated every 2 weeks. Effects of PKGM on cutaneous inflammation were evaluated by histopathological analysis. Local expression levels of substance P and proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA. Results: An increase in scratching behavior was evident from 6 weeks of age in control mice, but this symptom was dose-dependently inhibited in PKGM-fed mice. Continuous PKGM feeding then significantly inhibited eczematous skin lesions including hyperkeratosis, dermal mastocytosis and eosinophilia. Concomitantly, cutaneous overproductions of substance P, IL-10, IL-4, and TNF- alpha were all suppressed in PKGM-fed mice. Conclusions: PKGM feeding markedly suppressed development of scratching behavior, substance P expression with mastocytosis, and skin inflammatory immune responses in NC/Nga mice.

Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Nobukazu Onishi
Department of Research and Development, Nishikawa Rubber Co. Ltd.
2-1-31 Yamamoto, Asaminami-ku
Hiroshima 731-0137 (Japan)
Tel. +81 82 875 0041, Fax +81 82 875 0610, E-Mail onishi@nishikawa-rbr.co.jp

Article Information

Received: September 14, 2006
Accepted after revision: March 21, 2007
Published online: May 24, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 10
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 0, Number of References : 34

Medline Abstract (ID 17536217)

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