Effects of zileuton on airway smooth muscle remodeling after repeated allergen challenge in brown Norway rats.

BACKGROUND: Chronic asthma is characterized by airway inflammation and remodeling. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of zileuton on bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and airway smooth muscle (ASM) remodeling. METHODS: Two experimental groups of brown Norway rats sensitized and repeatedly challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin (OA) were given oral zileuton (OA-zileuton group) and oral saline only (OA-saline group). A third, control group was sensitized and challenged by saline. The rats were anesthetized and paralyzed. Pulmonary function tests were performed at baseline and after varying doses of acetylcholine. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissues were examined. RESULTS: Zileuton had beneficial effects on pulmonary function, airway inflammation and ASM remodeling in the OA-zileuton group compared to the OA-saline group. Zileuton inhibited an OA-stimulated increase in ASM by inhibiting hypertrophy, hyperplasia and increased extracellular matrix via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, thereby reducing cyclin D1 expression and attenuating bronchial hyperresponsiveness. CONCLUSION: OA increases airway inflammation and ASM mass. Zileuton effectively prevents bronchial hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation and ASM remodeling in sensitized rats through the PI3K/Akt pathway, which reduces cyclin D1 expression.

Relaxation of isolated guinea pig trachea by genistein via inhibition of phosphodiesterase.

We investigated the mechanisms of the relaxant action of genistein, an isoflavone, phytoestrogen and non-specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Changes in tension of guinea pig tracheal segments were isometrically recorded on a polygraph. Genistein concentration-dependently relaxed histamine (30 microM)-, carbachol (0.2 microM)-, KCl (30 mM)- and leukotriene D4 (10 nM)-induced precontractions and inhibited cumulative histamine- and carbachol-induced contractions in a non-competitive manner. Genistein also concentration-dependently and non-competitively inhibited the cumulative, Ca2+-induced contractions in the depolarized (K+, 60 mM) trachealis. The remaining nifedipine (10 microM)-induced tension of the histamine (30 microM)-induced precontraction was further relaxed by genistein, suggesting that regardless of whether voltage-dependent calcium channels are blocked genistein may have other mechanisms of relaxant action. These other mechanisms of the relaxant effect of genistein appeared to be epithelium-independent and were not affected by the presence of propranolol (1 microM), 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine (10 microM), methylene blue (25 microM), glibenclamide (10 microM), Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (20 microM) or alpha-chymotrypsin (1 U/mL), suggesting that the mechanisms are unrelated to activation of the beta-adrenoceptor, of adenylate cyclase, of guanylate cyclase, of adenosine triphosphate-sensitive potassium channel opening, of nitric oxide formation or of neuropeptide release, respectively. However, genistein (17.5-35 microM) produced parallel, leftward shifts in the concentration-response curves of forskolin and nitroprusside and significantly increased the pD2 values of these two agonists. Both genistein and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine at various concentrations (10-300 microM) concentration-dependently and significantly inhibited cAMP- and cGMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities of the trachealis. The -log IC50 values of genistein were estimated to be 4.28 and 4.17, respectively. The above results reveal that the mechanisms of the relaxant action of genistein may be due to its non-selective inhibition of both PDE activities. IBMX:3-ixobutyl-1-methylxanthine VDCCs:voltage-dependent calcium channels cAMP:adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate cGMP:guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate ATP:adenosine triphosphate PDE:phosphodiesterase LTD4:leukotriene D4L-NNA:Nomega-nitro-L-arginine DMSO:dimethyl sulfoxide EGTA: N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid ANOVA:analysis of variance.