Effect of erythromycin on bronchial hyperreactivity and inflammation in ovalbumin-sensitized brown Norway rats.
To evaluate the effect of erythromycin on bronchial hyperreactivity, inflammation, and T-cell related cytokine mRNA expression in rats sensitized to ovalbumin, three experimental groups of 10 brown Norway rats each were sensitized by breathing aerosolized ovalbumin. From day 1 to day 15, one group was given oral erythromycin 80 mg/kg/day, another group oral erythromycin 20mg/kg/day, and the third group oral saline only. A fourth control group of 10 rats breathed aerosolized saline. After sensitization, the three experimental groups were provoked by breathing ovalbumin, with the controls again breathing saline. The rats were then anesthetized and paralyzed, and pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline and after varying doses of acetylcholine. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and lung tissues were examined for expression of mRNA for T-cell cytokines. Our results showed that erythromycin had no beneficial effects on pulmonary function and lung inflammation in the two erythromycin-treated experimental groups compared with the saline experimental group. Th2-related cytokines and their mRNA expression in the three experimental groups were higher than in controls but did not differ among the experimental groups. In conclusion, erythromycin does not prevent bronchial hyperreactivity or an inflammatory response in ovalbumin-sensitized rats.
Lin
Ching-Chi
CC
Chest Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Medical Research, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. cclin@ms2.mmh.org.tw
Liaw
Shwu-Fang
SF
Wu
Kun-Ming
KM
Lin
Chih-Hsueh
CH
D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; D023501:Chlamydophila / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000187:drug effects / Q000821:virology; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010993:Plethysmography, Whole Body; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011914:Rats, Inbred BN; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors; D004917:Erythromycin; D010047:Ovalbumin