title: The efficacy of minocycline against methotrexate-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In addition to its antimicrobial effects, inhibitory effects of minocycline have been demonstrated, including against inflammation, apoptosis, proteolysis, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. In this study, we aimed to determine the beneficial effects of minocycline on lung histology and its antioxidant activity in a murine model of pulmonary fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight Swiss albino mice were randomly allocated into four groups of seven animals per group. Group I (control group) received intraperitoneal injection of saline. Group II (methotrexate group) received methotrexate orally 3 mg/kg for 28 days. Group III (minocycline group) received methotrexate orally 3 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg of intraperitoneally injected minocycline for 28 days. Group IV (minocycline group) received 15 mg/kg of intraperitoneally injected minocycline for 28 days. Twenty-eight days later, the animals were euthanized. Thereafter, lung tissue samples were harvested. Histological findings of airways were evaluated by light microscopy. The levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), the product of reactive oxygen in lung tissue, and catalase, an antioxidant enzyme, were also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the light microscopic examination, the lung tissues of the control group showed normal histological features. In the methotrexate group, the degree of lung damage (grade 3 fibrosis) was higher than the control and other groups (p: 0.001). In the minocycline-treated group, improvement in lung tissue was noted (median fibrosis score: 3 (MTX group) vs 1 (MTX plus minocycline group); p: 0.001). Only the minocycline group showed normal histological features. Although minocycline reduced the MDA levels in lung tissue, an increase in catalase activity was detected (p: 0.018 and p: 0.014, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The administration of minocycline may be effective in MTX-induced lung fibrosis in mice. However, further studies with high-dose and long-term treatments are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chest Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Mugla University, Mugla, Turkey. ahmetdirican@yahoo.com  
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kalemci
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.forename: E S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sözen
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Uner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yaylali
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aksun
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Karacam
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sütcü
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008727:Methotrexate; D051379:Mice; D008911:Minocycline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D008911:Minocycline; D008727:Methotrexate