title: Clarithromycin Attenuates Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Mice.
abstract: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common and unavoidable complication of thoracic radiotherapy. The current study was conducted to evaluate the ability of clarithromycin (CLA) to prevent radiation-induced pneumonitis, oxidative stress, and lung fibrosis in an animal model. C57BL/6J mice were assigned to control, irradiation only, irradiation plus CLA, and CLA only groups. Test mice received single thoracic exposures to radiation and/or oral CLA (100 mg/kg/day). Histopathologic findings and markers of inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress were compared by group. On a microscopic level, CLA inhibited macrophage influx, alveolar fibrosis, parenchymal collapse, consolidation, and epithelial cell changes. The concentration of collagen in lung tissue was lower in irradiation plus CLA mice. Radiation-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TNF receptor 1, acetylated nuclear factor kappa B, cyclooxygenase 2, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 were also attenuated by CLA. Expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase 1, transforming growth factor-β1, connective tissue growth factor, and type I collagen in radiation-treated lungs were also attenuated by CLA. These findings indicate that CLA ameliorates the deleterious effects of thoracic irradiation in mice by reducing pulmonary inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chin-ok
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Rok Won
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yi Yeong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ki Mun
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy & Convergence Medical Science, Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Gu Seob
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong Deog
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D017564:Radiation Pneumonitis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin