N-acetylcysteine treatment protects against VEGF-receptor blockade-related emphysema

COPD. 2004 Apr;1(1):25-32. doi: 10.1081/COPD-120030412.

Abstract

Administration of the VEGF receptor blocker SU5416 to rats causes alveolar septal cell apoptosis and emphysema; both can be prevented by a superoxide dismutase mimetic. Here we show that SU5416 induces the expression of heme oxygenase-1 in the lung tissue and that administration of antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine protects alveolar septal cells against apoptosis, as demonstrated by caspase-3 lung immunohistochemistry, and against emphysema.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology*
  • Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Emphysema / chemically induced
  • Emphysema / metabolism
  • Emphysema / prevention & control*
  • Heme Oxygenase-1 / metabolism*
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / prevention & control
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Lung / cytology
  • Lung / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Pyrroles / pharmacology
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor / antagonists & inhibitors*

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Pyrroles
  • Semaxinib
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
  • Acetylcysteine