Inhalation of ambroxol inhibits cigarette smoke-induced acute lung injury in a mouse model by inhibiting the Erk pathway.

Oral and injection administration of ambroxol has been clinically used to treat airway disease. However, little is known about its potentials in inhalation therapy. In present studies, we tested the effects of ambroxol by inhalation with intravenous administration, and explored the underlying working mechanism.

Intracerebroventricular injection of leukotriene B4 attenuates antigen-induced asthmatic response via BLT1 receptor stimulating HPA-axis in sensitized rats.

Background: Basic and clinical studies suggest that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the neuroendocrine-immune pathway that functionally regulates the chronic inflammatory disease including asthma. Our previous studies showed corresponding changes of cytokines and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) between brain and lung tissues in antigen-challenged asthmatic rats. Here, we investigated how the increased LTB4 level in brain interacts with HPA axis in regulating antigen-induced asthmatic response in sensitized rats.

Leukotriene B4, administered via intracerebroventricular injection, attenuates the antigen-induced asthmatic response in sensitized guinea pigs.

Background: Despite intensive studies focused on the pathophysiology of asthmatic inflammation, little is known about how cross-talk between neuroendocrine and immune systems regulates the inflammatory response during an asthmatic attack. We recently showed corresponding changes of cytokines and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in brain and lung tissues of antigen-challenged asthmatic rats. Here, we investigated how LTB4 interacts with the neuroendocrine-immune system in regulating antigen-induced asthmatic responses in sensitized guinea pigs.

Oral administration of allergen extracts from Dermatophagoides farinae desensitizes specific allergen-induced inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in rats.

Clinically sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) by using allergen extracts effectively alleviates the symptoms of allergic rhinitis and asthma. Supposed that oral administration of high-dose of allergen extracts imitates SLIT and may prevent IgE-related responses in allergic diseases, we investigated the effects of oral administration of allergen extracts from Dermatophagoides farinae (Derf) on allergen-induced inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in a model of asthmatic rat. After administration to the specific Derf-sensitized rats with Derfdrop solution containing Derf1 and Derf2 extracts derived from Derf, the effects of Derfdrop on AHR, inflammatory cell accumulation, cytokine production in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and lung tissue, as well as serum IgE and IgG levels were investigated.

Anti-asthmatic effects of Perilla seed oil in the guinea pig in vitro and in vivo.

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-asthmatic effects of Perilla seed oil in vitro and in vivo in sensitized guinea pigs. Aerosolized antigen caused an immediate bronchoconstriction. Perilla seed oil per os inhibited the increase in lung resistance and the decrease in dynamic lung compliance in a dose-dependent manner with an ED50 (95 % confidence interval, CI) of 1.

Effects of ciclamilast, a new PDE 4 PDE4 inhibitor, on airway hyperresponsiveness, PDE4D expression and airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma.

PDE4 (phosphodiesterase-4) plays a critical role in pathogenesis of allergic asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). PDE4 inhibitors are presently under clinical development for the treatment of asthma and/or COPD. Ciclamilast, a new PDE4 inhibitor, is a piclamilast (RP 73401) structural analogue, but has a more potent inhibitory effect on PDE4 and inflammation in the airway tissues and less side effects than that of piclamilast.

Inhibition of phosphodiesterase activity, airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness by PDE4 inhibitor and glucocorticoid in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) isozyme plays important roles in inflammatory and immunomodulatory cells. In this study, piclamilast, a selective PDE4 inhibitor, was used to investigate the role of PDE4 in respiratory function and inflammation in a murine asthma model. Sensitized mice were challenged with aerosolized ovalbumin for 7 days, piclamilast (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) were orally administered once daily during the period of challenge.