Effects of crocin on T-bet/GATA-۳ ratio, and miR-۱۴۶a and miR-۱۰۶a expression levels in lung tissue of ovalbumin-sensitized mice

Objective(s): Although various studies have revealed the beneficial effects of crocin (derived from saffron), such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antioxidant, and immune modulator, however, its exact mechanism is unknown. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of crocin on the expression ratio of T-bet/GATA-۳ as an indicator of altered immune responses in the lung tissue of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice. In addition, the effect of crocin on the expression level of miR-۱۴۶a and miR-۱۰۶a in the lung tissue OVA-sensitized mice was investigated.Materials and Methods: Mice were randomly divided into five groups (n=۶): Control; OVA, OVA + Crocin ۲۵, OVA + Cro ۵۰, and OVA + Cro۱۰۰ groups. Crocin was administrated intraperitoneally at doses of ۲۵, ۵۰, and ۱۰۰ mg/kg for five consecutive days. One day after asthma induction, animals were euthanized, and lungs were sampled for pathological and gene expression analysis.Results: OVA-sensitization led to increased inflammation and histopathological changes in the lung tissue of mice. In addition, GATA-۳ expression increased (P<۰.۰۰۱) and T-bet expression decreased (P<۰.۰۰۱) in OVA-sensitized groups. The T-bet/GATA۳ ratio was also reduced markedly in asthma groups (P<۰.۰۰۱). Furthermore, increased expression of miR-۱۴۶a and miR-۱۰۶a levels was evident in the lung tissue of OVA-sensitized mice (P<۰.۰۰۱ for both). Intervention with high concentrations of crocin (۵۰ and ۱۰۰ mg/kg) significantly reduced airway inflammation, GATA-۳ expression, miR-۱۴۶a expression, and miR-۱۰۶a expression and corrected the T-bet/GATA-۳ ratio (P<۰.۰۵ to P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: Treatment with crocin led to a decrease in the severity of lung inflammation in OVA-sensitized mice, which is probably through the reduction of the T-bet/GATA-۳ ratio, and mir-۱۴۶a and mir-۱۰۶a expression level.

Keywords:

Asthma , Gata-۳ , microRNA-۱۰۶a , microRNA-۱۴۶a , T-box transcription factor