VCAM-1 expression, eosinophil infiltration, and pharmacological modulation in rat allergic airway inflammation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and eosinophil infiltration in the lungs of the rats with allergic airway inflammation, and their possible modulation by dexamethasone and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SR140333.


METHODS
Sensitized rats were challenged with inhalation of 1 % ovalbumin aerosol. Protein expression of VCAM-1 in the lungs and eosinophil infiltration around bronchi in different groups were determined 24 h after challenge. SR140333 (0.01 and 0.10 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.50 mg/kg) were injected ip, twice a day, for 3 d before challenge.


RESULTS
The expression of VCAM-1 was increased in the sensitized rat lungs as compared with the non-sensitized rats (P<0.05). The increment was inhibited by pretreatment with dexamethasone (P<0.05), but not with SR140333 (P>0.05). On the other hand, antigen challenge in sensitized rats evoked eosinophil infiltration (P<0.05) but no further increase in VCAM-1 expression (P>0.05). Furthermore, SR140333 inhibited eosinophil infiltration (P<0.05) but had no effect on VCAM-1 expression (P>0.05), whereas dexamethasone inhibited both responses (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of VCAM-1 increases during antigen sensitization in rat lungs, and dexamethasone and SR140333 may inhibit allergic airway inflammation in different mechanisms.
Kang
Hua
H
Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China.
Wei
Er-Qing
EQ
Yang
Xiao-Hong
XH
Zhang
Wei-Ping
WP
Shen
Jian-Zhong
JZ
D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010047:Ovalbumin; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011812:Quinuclidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D064729:Neurokinin-1 Receptor Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D011812:Quinuclidines; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; C085215:SR 140333; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010047:Ovalbumin