title: Methylprednisolone causes matrix metalloproteinase-dependent emphysema in adult rats.
abstract: Previous investigations have shown that corticosteroids affect the development and maturation of the developing lung in utero and in neonatal animals. Systemic corticosteroids are routinely used for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and inhaled corticosteroids are more frequently being prescribed for the long-term treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Because corticosteroids can affect matrix metalloproteinases and because the concept of protease/antiprotease imbalance is an important concept regarding the pathogenesis of emphysema, we examined the effects of chronic steroid treatment on lung structure in adult rats. Rats treated with 2 mg/kg of methylprednisolone daily for 1, 2, or 4 weeks had an increased mean linear intercept and a decrease of the surface-volume ratio when compared with age-matched control animals, and the animals showed increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity in their lungs on zymography. Rats treated concomitantly with methylprednisolone and a broad-spectrum matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (GM6001) did not develop emphysema. We conclude that systemic treatment of adult rats with the antiinflammatory steroid methylprednisolone increases the activity of matrix metalloproteinases in the lung and causes emphysema.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Box C 272, 4200 E. Ninth Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA.
authors.forename: Kang-Hyeon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Laimute
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Taraseviciene-Stewart
authors.forename: Robertas
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scerbavicius
authors.forename: Lajos
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gera
authors.forename: Rubin M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Tuder
authors.forename: Norbert F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Voelkel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000633:toxicity*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000209:etiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008775:Methylprednisolone