title: Effects of tranilast and pentoxifylline in a mouse model of chronic asthma using house dust mite antigen.
abstract: Tranilast has been used in allergic diseases because of its inhibitory effect on mast cells; it also has an anti-fibrotic effect in several diseases. Pentoxifylline (PTX), a methylxanthine derivative, is a potent anti-inflammatory drug that is known to manifest its effect through the inhibition of Th1 cytokine, but with an uncertain effect on Th2 cytokine. Seven-week-old female BALB/c mice were studied as a chronic asthma model. The mice were challenged with house dust mite (HDM) antigen for 7 weeks. Each group of mice was given an intraperitoneal injection of tranilast, PTX, or tranilast plus PTX before antigen administration. In this mouse model of chronic asthma, tranilast, and PTX each had an inhibitory effect on airway remodeling as well as on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation. The improved events of these drugs were related with the inhibition of the Th2 cytokine IL-13 and TGF-beta 1. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that decreases in the peribronchial trichrome stained area in each treatment group were associated with improvements in the peribronchial smooth muscle hyperplasia, collagen type I, and collagen type III deposition. These drugs could have potential beneficial effects on chronic asthma, especially with respect to airway remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-040, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Joon
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hyun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Haak
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyoung Kyu
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Chi Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joong Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jung Mi
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seok Chan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sook Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Soon Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Young Kyoon
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D055745:Bronchioles / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D002452:Cell Count; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens / Q000378:metabolism; D020397:Goblet Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000473:pathology; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D024022:Fibrillar Collagens; D018793:Interleukin-13; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D062367:ortho-Aminobenzoates; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; C012293:tranilast; D010431:Pentoxifylline