Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2012 Dec;5(4):222-227. 10.3342/ceo.2012.5.4.222.

The Effect of Nano-Silver on Allergic Rhinitis Model in Mice

• Shin SH
• Ye MK

• KMID: 1489083
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2012.5.4.222

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Silver has long been known as a strong antimicrobial and disinfectant. Several types of nano-silver coated products have been developed. However, the antimicrobial and disinfectant characteristics of nano-silver have not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of nano-silver on allergic inflammation in a mouse model.
METHODS
Female BALB/C mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminium hydroxide on days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Mice were challenged with intranasal instillation of OVA. Nano-silver was also administered nasally prior to intranasal instillation of OVA. Severity of allergic rhinitis was assessed according to nasal symptoms, serum OVA-specific IgE level, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and interferon (INF)-gamma levels in nasal lavage fluid. Hematoxylin-eosin stain and periodic acid-Schiff stain were performed for evaluation of histological change.
RESULTS
Nano-silver attenuated manifestation of nasal symptoms in sensitized mice and inhibited production of OVA-specific IgE, IL-4, and IL-10, however, it had no effect on INF-gamma level. In addition, the degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell hyperplasia was attenuated by nano-silver.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that nano-silver may effectively reduce allergic inflammation in a mouse model of allergic rhinitis. Through its properties as an anti-inflammatory agent, nano-silver may be a useful therapeutic strategy.

Keyword

Nanosilver; Allergic rhinitis; Mouse model

MeSH Terms

Animals
Female
Goblet Cells
Humans
Hydroxides
Hyperplasia
Immunoglobulin E
Inflammation
Injections, Intraperitoneal
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-4
Interleukins
Mice
Nasal Lavage Fluid
Ovalbumin
Ovum
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Silver
Hydroxides
Immunoglobulin E
Interferons
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-4
Interleukins
Ovalbumin
Silver

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Ovalbumin (OVA)-specific IgE levels in serum and cytokine levels in nasal lavage fluid of each study group. (A) Serum IgE, (B) interleukin (IL)-4, (C) IL-10, and (D) interferon (INF)-γ. OVA-specific IgE antibody, IL-4, and IL-10 production was significantly inhibited by nano-silver. NC, negative control group; AR, allergic rhinitis group. *P<0.05 vs. the AR group. †P<0.05 vs. the NC group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Photographs of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) stain of nasal mucosa. The number of PAS positive cells was increased in the allergic rhinitis (AR) group compared with the negative control (NC) group. The number of PAS positive cells was decreased in the nano-silver (NS) treated group, compared with the AR group.

• 

  Fig. 3 Epithelial thickness and the number of periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive cells of nasal mucosa tissue of each study group. (A) Epithelial cell thickness was not influenced by nano-silver treatment, (B) the number of PAS positive cells was decreased in the nano-silver treated group, compared with the allergic rhinitis (AR) group. NC, negative control group. *P<0.05 vs. the AR group. †P<0.05 vs. the NC group.

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