Inhibiting effect of montelukast on eosinophilic airway inflammation of asthmatic guinea pigs / 中国药理学通报

ABSTRACT

Aim To study the effect of montelukast on eosinophilic airway inflammation of asthmatic guinea pigs,and explore possible mechanism of montelukast. Methods Experimental asthma model of guinea pigs was induced by ovalbumin in vivo. The eosinophils in BALF were separated by density gradient centrifugation. The apoptosis of eosinophils was labeled by TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)technique. The content of IL-5 in BALF was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of ECP in BALF was detected through fluorescence enzyme-labeled assay. Results In BALF of asthmatic guinea pigs model, the number of eosinophils and content of IL-5 and ECP increased obviously, while the apoptosis index of eosinophils was lowered. After treatment with montelukast, the number of eosinophils and content of IL-5 and ECP in BALF of asthmatic guinea pigs decreased significantly, while the apoptosis index of eosinophils was elevated significantly. Conclusion Montelukast can inhibit the eosinophilic airway inflammation of asthmatic guinea pigs. Lowering the levels of IL-5 and ECP in BALF, promoting apoptosis of eosinophils and relieving airway infiltration of eosinophils may be important mechanisms for montelukast to antagonize airway inflammation of asthma.