Potent ameliorating effect of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) antagonist YC-1 on combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS) in Rats

Recent studies have implicated that Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) plays an integral role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and asthma. In the present study, we showed that HIF-1α antagonist YC-1, 3-(5-hydroxymethyl-2-furyl)-1-benzylindazole, elicited a potent allergy-ameliorating effect in a rat model of ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized combined allergic rhinitis and asthma syndrome (CARAS). We revealed that YC-1 administration markedly impaired the total number and percentage of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL Fluid) of the rats, suggesting that YC-1 might attenuate lung and nasal mucosal inflammation in OVA-sensitized rats. Moreover, histological examination found that OVA-induced pathological alterations were evidently attenuated following YC-1 administration. In addition, immunohistochemistrial analysis indicated that YC-1 treatment decreased the expression of HIF-1α in rat lungs and nasal mucosa. Notably, Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), two important regulators of inflammatory responses, were also significantly down-regulated following YC-1 administration. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed that YC-1 impaired the expression of HIF-1α, NF-κB and PPARα in CARAS model. These findings together indicated that YC-1 exerted remarkable anti-allergic effects through the modulation of inflammatory pathways, implying that YC-1 may potentially serve as a novel anti-CARAS medicine in clinical patients.