title: The influence of dexamethasone and the role of some antioxidant vitamins in the pathogenesis of experimental bronchial asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bronchial asthma is a disease characterized by paroxysmal and reversible obstruction of the airways. The imbalance between the oxidant and antioxidant system that is called oxidative stress is critical in asthma pathogenesis. It is likely, therefore, that antioxidants may be effective in the treatment of asthma. Systemic treatment with glucocorticoids has been reported to inhibit smooth muscle hypercontraction which may account partially for their beneficial effects in the treatment of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study was conducted in order to study the effect of dexamethasone and some antioxidant vitamins on interleukin-4 (IL-4), immunoglobulin E (IgE) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) in bronchial asthma in rats, and to recognize their possible beneficial role.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted on 60 adult male albino rats randomly divided into 4 groups (15 for each group): including normal control group (group A); asthma model group where rats were sensitized by ovalbumin and challenged with antigen aerosol producing bronchial asthma (group B); asthma model group treated with antioxidant vitamins (vitamin E and vitamin C) (group C); asthma model group treated with dexamethasone (group D). Blood and lung samples were collected from all groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results revealed a significant decrease of serum reduced glutathione (GSH) levels among groups B, C and D as compared to group A, while there was a significant increase in group C and D as compared to group B. Antioxidant and dexamethasone treatment resulted in a significant decrease of serum IL-4, malondialdehyde (MDA), and serum IgE levels in group C and D as compared to group B. Antioxidant treatment resulted in a significant decrease of serum Hsp70 level as compared to group B, while dexamethasone treatment resulted in a significant increase of serum Hsp70 level as compared to group B. This study suggests that it is likely that a combination of antioxidant vitamins may be effective in the treatment of asthma, considering their reported effects on lowering MDA, IL-4, and IgE levels, and the similar beneficial effects of dexamethasone in addition to increasing the expression of Hsp70 in the studied model of bronchial asthma.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nounou
authors.affiliation: Physiology Department, College of Medicine, Alexandria University, Egypt.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Deif
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arafah
keywords: heat shock protein 70; immunoglobulin E; interleukin-4; malondialdehyde; oxidative stresss; rats; reduced glutathione