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VCAM-1 expression, eosinophil infiltration, and pharmacological modulation in rat allergic airway inflammation
Hua Kang1, Er-Qing Wei, Xiao-Hong Yang
1Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310031, China.
Aim:
To determine vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression and eosinophil infiltration in the lungs of the rats with allergic airway inflammation, and their possible modulation by dexamethasone and neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist SR140333.
Methods:
Sensitized rats were challenged with inhalation of 1 % ovalbumin aerosol. Protein expression of VCAM-1 in the lungs and eosinophil infiltration around bronchi in different groups were determined 24 h after challenge. SR140333 (0.01 and 0.10 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (0.50 mg/kg) were injected ip, twice a day, for 3 d before challenge.
Results:
The expression of VCAM-1 was increased in the sensitized rat lungs as compared with the non-sensitized rats (P<0.05). The increment was inhibited by pretreatment with dexamethasone (P<0.05), but not with SR140333 (P>0.05). On the other hand, antigen challenge in sensitized rats evoked eosinophil infiltration (P<0.05) but no further increase in VCAM-1 expression (P>0.05). Furthermore, SR140333 inhibited eosinophil infiltration (P<0.05) but had no effect on VCAM-1 expression (P>0.05), whereas dexamethasone inhibited both responses (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
The expression of VCAM-1 increases during antigen sensitization in rat lungs, and dexamethasone and SR140333 may inhibit allergic airway inflammation in different mechanisms.