Effects of cyclosporine A and bronchial transection on mucociliary transport in rats.
BACKGROUND
Posttransplant infection remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality after lung transplantation. We hypothesized that bronchial transection and immunosuppression by cyclosporine both play a key role in the impairment of airway mucociliary clearance, a basic defense system.


METHODS
Sixty-four rats were assigned to four groups of 16 each according to surgical procedure and drug therapy as follows: sham-operated and saline solution; bronchial transection and saline solution; sham-operated and cyclosporine; bronchial transection and cyclosporine (10 mg/kg/day). Eight animals from each group were euthanized on postoperative day 30 or 90. In vitro mucus transportability, in situ mucociliary transport, and ciliary beating frequency were measured.


RESULTS
There was a significant impairment (p < 0.001) on ciliary beating frequency due to either bronchial transection or cyclosporine therapy. In vitro transportability was impaired only in cyclosporine-treated groups (p < 0.001). In situ mucociliary transport was reduced in cyclosporine-treated animals as well as in those that underwent bronchial transection (p < 0.001). This impairment was significantly recovered 90 days after operation. In contrast, the effects of cyclosporine did not change over 90 days of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support our hypothesis that mucociliary clearance is impaired after bronchial transection and cyclosporine therapy. Further studies are necessary to relate this finding with posttransplant infection and also to test some drugs aiming to protect airway mucociliary system.
Pazetti
Rogerio
R
Laboratory of Thoracic Surgery Research, Department of Cardiopneumology, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
Pêgo-Fernandes
Paulo M
PM
Lorenzi-Filho
Geraldo
G
Saldiva
Paulo H N
PH
Moreira
Luiz Felipe P
LF
Jatene
Fabio B
FB
D000818:Animals; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine