Azithromycin reduces pulmonary fibrosis in a bleomycin mouse model.
Exp Lung Res
; 36(10): 602-14, 2010 Dec.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20874225
ABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating disease without proper treatment. Despite intensive research, the exact underlying pathogenesis remains elusive. It is regarded as a continuous injury, resulting in inflammation, infiltration, and proliferation of fibroblasts and extracellular matrix deposition, leading to an irreversible restrictive lung function deterioration and death. In this study the effect of azithromycin, a macrolide antibiotic on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis was investigated. C57BL/6 mice were intratracheally instilled with bleomycin (0.5 mg/kg) or saline. In the bleomycin group, half of the animals received azithromycin every other day from day 1 on. Bronchoalveolar lavage and histology were performed at days 7 and 35, and pulmonary function tests on day 35. At day 35, fibrotic lesions (spindle cell proliferation/collagen I deposition) were paralleled by a restrictive lung function pattern. Alterations were found in neutrophils and macrophages (innate immunity) and in T(H)2, T(H)17, and Treg cytokines (adaptive immunity). Azithromycin significantly reduced both fibrosis and the restrictive lung function pattern. This study demonstrated a beneficial effect of azithromycin on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. A possible mechanism could be a modulation of both innate immunity and adaptive immunity. These findings might suggest a potential role for azithromycin in the treatment of IPF.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Linfocitos T CD4-Positivos
/
Azitromicina
/
Fibrosis Pulmonar Idiopática
/
Inmunidad Innata
/
Antibacterianos
Tipo de estudio:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Animals
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Exp Lung Res
Año:
2010
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica