effect of carvacrol on various cytokines genes expression in splenocytes of asthmatic mice

objective(s):with regard to pharmacological effects of carvacrol on the respiratory system, its effect on cytokines genes expression in splenocytes of asthmatic mice was examined in this study. materials and methods:splenocytes were isolated from non-sensitized (control group), sensitized mice to ovalbumin (ova) (group s), and s animals treated with dexamethasone, and three concentrations of carvacrol. il-4, ifn-γ, tgf-β, foxp3, and il-17 genes expression were carried out in cultured splenocytes using the real-time pcr method. results:compared to the control group, ifn-γ and foxp3 genes expression were significantly decreased (p<0.001 for both cases), but il-4 and il-17 genes expression were significantly increased in the s group (p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively). il-4 gene expression due to treatment of all concentrations of carvacrol, tgf-β gene expression due to its two higher concentrations, and il-17 gene expression due to its high concentration were significantly decreased compared to group s (p<0.01 to p<0.001). ifn-γ gene expression was significantly increased due to last carvacrol concentration (300 µg/ml, p<0.01), and foxp3 due to its two last concentrations (150 and 300 µg/ml, p<0.05 and p<0.001, respectively) in treated s splenocytes. dexamethasone treatment of sensitized splenocytes only showed significant inhibitory effect on il-4 and tgf-β genes expression (p<0.001 for both cases). conclusion: these results showed the immunomodulatory effect of carvacrol indicating increased ifn-γ and foxp3 but decreased il-4, tgf-β, and il-17 genes expression, which was more selective than the effect of dexamethasone in sensitized mice splenocytes, which indicates its possible therapeutic value in allergy, autoimmunity, and infectious diseases.