Erythropoietin may attenuate lung inflammation in a rat model of meconium aspiration syndrome.
Inflammation is believed to play a key role in the pathophysiology of meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS).



The objective was to determine whether the recombinant human Erythropoietin (rhEPO) pretreatment could attenuate meconium-induced inflammation.



In this study, 24 ventilated adult male rats were studied to examine the effects of recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) on meconium-induced inflammation. Seventeen rats were instilled with human meconium (1.5 mL/kg, 65 mg/mL) intratracheally and ventilated for 3 hours. rhEPO (1000 U/kg) (n = 9) or saline (n = 8) was given to the animals. Seven rats that were ventilated and not instilled with meconium served as a sham-controlled group. Analysis of the blood gases, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples, and lung tissue myeloperoxidase levels were performed.



Intrapulmonary instillation of meconium resulted in the increase of TNF-α (p = 0.005 and p < 0.001, respectively) and IL-8 concentrations (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively) in BAL fluid in the EPO + meconium and saline + meconium groups compared with the sham-controlled group. rhEPO pretreatment prevented the increase of BAL fluid IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 levels (p < 0.001, p = 0.021, and p = 0.005, respectively), and serum IL-6 levels (p = 0.036).



rhEPO pretreatment is associated with improved BAL fluid and serum cytokine levels. Pretreatment with rhEPO might reduce the risk of developing of meconium-induced derangements.
a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Istanbul Hospital of Başkent University , Istanbul , Turkey.|b Department of Pediatrics , Division of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Mersin University , Mersin , Turkey.
Ali Haydar
AH
Turhan
b Department of Pediatrics , Division of Neonatology, School of Medicine, Mersin University , Mersin , Turkey.
Aytuğ
A
Atici
c Department of Biochemistry , Mersin University, School of Medicine , Mersin , Turkey.
Necati
N
Muşlu
d Department of Pathology , Mersin University, School of Medicine , Mersin , Turkey.
Ayşe
A
Polat
e Department of Biostatistics , Mersin University, School of Medicine , Mersin , Turkey.
Mehmet Ali
MA
Sungur
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004921:Erythropoietin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008471:Meconium Aspiration Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011292:Premedication; D051381:Rats
C554270:EPO protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D004921:Erythropoietin
erythropoietin; meconium; newborn; rat; respiratory distress