title: Azithromycin attenuates pulmonary inflammation and emphysema in smoking-induced COPD model in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The role of inflammation and immunity in COPD treatment is increasingly being recognized. The relationship between anti-inflammation/immunoregulation and emphysema in COPD lungs remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of azithromycin (Azm) on the development of emphysema in smoking-induced COPD in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 50) were randomly assigned to normal, COPD, saline-treated, Azm-treated, and levofloxacin-treated (Lev) groups. The effects of treatment were assessed by measuring the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and measuring the numbers of neutrophil and macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF receptor-2 (VEGFR2) protein expression by western blotting. Lung function measurements and histopathological evaluations (mean linear intercept and destructive index) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  FEV0.3/FVC and peak expiratory flow were lower in the COPD group than in the normal group. Mean linear intercept and destructive index were lower in the Azm-treated group than in the COPD, saline-treated, and Lev-treated groups. The numbers of neutrophil and macrophage in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were lower in the Azm-treated group than in the COPD, saline-treated, and Lev-treated groups. As confirmed by western blotting, the levels of VEGF in lung homogenates were higher in the Azm-treated group than in the COPD, saline-treated, and Lev-treated groups. VEGFR2 protein expression was higher in the Azm-treated group than in the COPD, saline-treated, and Lev-treated groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Azm attenuates pulmonary emphysema by partly reversing the decrease in the numbers of inflammatory cells (neutrophil and macrophage) and VEGF secretion and VEGFR2 protein expression in smoking-induced COPD in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China. Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Huaian 223002, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China. huangzh@jswst.gov.cn.
authors.forename: Zu-Hu
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Huaian 223002, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Huaian 223002, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chuan-Qin
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Huaian 223002, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hui
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical College, Huaian 223002, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Long
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017963:Azithromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry; D008264:Macrophages; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012907:Smoking; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000032:analysis; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D017963:Azithromycin; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2
keywords: VEGF; azithromycin; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; cigarette smoking; emphysema