Aerosolized polymerized type I collagen reduces airway inflammation and remodelling in a guinea pig model of allergic asthma

Lung. 2010 Apr;188(2):97-105. doi: 10.1007/s00408-009-9202-2. Epub 2009 Dec 9.

Abstract

Collagen-polyvinylpyrrolidone (Collagen-PVP) has been demonstrated to elicit immunomodulatory properties in different chronic inflammatory diseases. Nevertheless, its effects on asthma are still unknown. We have evaluated whether collagen-PVP could modulate airway inflammation and remodelling in a guinea pig model of allergic asthma. Sensitized guinea pigs were challenged with the allergen (ovalbumin) six times (at 10-day intervals). From the third challenge on, animals were treated every 5 days with saline aerosols containing 0.16, 0.33, or 0.66 mg/ml of collagen-PVP (n = 5, respectively). Some guinea pigs, sensitized and challenged with saline as well as treated with 0 or 0.66 mg/ml collagen-PVP, were included in the study as control (n = 7) and sham groups (n = 5), respectively. From the first challenge on, ovalbumin induced a transient airway obstruction, measured by barometric plethysmography, which was not modified by collagen-PVP treatments. After the last allergen challenge, guinea pigs were anesthetized to obtain bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and the left lung caudal lobe. As expected, BAL cell count from allergen-challenged guinea pigs showed abundant neutrophils and eosinophils, as well as numerous tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-expressing granulocytes and macrophages in airway wall (determined by immunohistochemical assay). Neutrophilia and TNF-alpha-expressing leukocytes, from collagen-PVP treated animals, diminished from 0.16 mg/ml, and eosinophilia from 0.66 mg/ml of collagen-PVP doses. Histological changes induced by allergen challenges include thickening of connective tissue below airway epithelium and vascular wall widening of airway adjacent vessels; these changes were reduced by collagen-PVP treatment. Collagen-PVP seems to have anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties in this guinea pig asthma model.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Aerosols
  • Airway Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Allergens
  • Animals
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / immunology
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / immunology
  • Collagen / administration & dosage*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Eosinophils / drug effects
  • Eosinophils / immunology
  • Granulocytes / drug effects
  • Granulocytes / immunology
  • Guinea Pigs
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / drug effects
  • Macrophages, Alveolar / immunology
  • Male
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Ovalbumin
  • Plethysmography
  • Pneumonia / immunology
  • Pneumonia / physiopathology
  • Pneumonia / therapy*
  • Povidone / administration & dosage*
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / drug therapy
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / immunology
  • Pulmonary Fibrosis / physiopathology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Allergens
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • collagen-PVP
  • Ovalbumin
  • Collagen
  • Povidone