title: Beneficial effects of erythropoietin on airway histology in a murine model of chronic asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Erythropoietin (EPO) is originally defined as a haematopoietic growth factor, but also has anti-inflammatory effects through cytokine modulation. This anti-inflammatory and cytokine modulating effect has not been investigated for the treatment of asthma. We aimed to determine the beneficial effects of erythropoietin on lung histology of murine model of chronic asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five BALB/c mice were divided into five groups: I; II; III; IV; and control group. All groups except control group were sensitised and challenged with ovalbumin. Mice with experimentally induced asthma in Group I received saline; Group II EPO 500IU/kg; Group III EPO 1000IU/kg; and Group IV dexamethasone 1mg/kg intraperitoneally once a day in the last five days of the challenge period. Animals were sacrificed 24h after the last administration of study drugs. Histological findings of airways were evaluated by light and electron microscopic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All histological parameters of asthma in the group treated with a high dose of EPO (Group III) were significantly ameliorated when compared with the group treated with saline (Group I). In comparison to the group treated with low dose of EPO (Group II) and the group treated with saline (Group I), basement membrane thicknesses and number of mast cells were significantly lower in the group treated with low dose of EPO (Group II). All histological parameters were similar between the group treated with high dose of EPO (Group III) and the group treated with dexamethasone (Group IV) except higher number of mast cells in the group treated with high dose of EPO (Group III). Additionally, the results of all histological parameters in the group treated with high dose of EPO (Group III) were significantly better when compared with the group treated with low dose of EPO (Group II).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that EPO ameliorated histological changes of chronic murine model of asthma. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of EPO in the treatment of asthma.
authors.affiliation: Multidisciplinary Laboratory, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Firinci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kiray
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuncel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagriyanik
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uzuner
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karaman
mesh_terms: D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D004921:Erythropoietin; D010047:Ovalbumin