Effect of inhaled cyclosporin A on antigen-induced airway inflammation in asthmatic rats / 药学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the effect of inhalation of cyclosporin (CsA) on antigen-induced airway inflammation in Sprague-Dawley rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were sensitized with antigen (ovalbumin, OA). After two weeks, the sensitized rats were pretreated with aerosol CsA (5, 10, 20 g x L(-1)), once per day for 7 days. Then, the sensitized rats were challenged with OA (10 g x L(-1), once per day) for 2 days at day 20 after sensitization. The number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and peripheral blood, histological changes of lung tissue, and TNF-alpha content in BALF were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Inhalation of CsA significantly reduced the number of eosinophils in BALF and peripheral blood, inflammatory infiltration and tissue edema of lung tissue, decreased the content of TNF-alpha in BALF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Inhalation of CsA inhibited airway inflammation in rats, and the mechanism is related to inhibition of TNF-alpha release.</p>