1. Sex-specific lung remodeling and inflammation changes in experimental allergic asthma.
- Author
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Antunes MA, Abreu SC, Silva AL, Parra-Cuentas ER, Ab'Saber AM, Capelozzi VL, Ferreira TP, Martins MA, Silva PM, and Rocco PR
- Subjects
- Animals, Asthma immunology, Asthma pathology, Asthma physiopathology, Bronchial Hyperreactivity immunology, Bronchial Hyperreactivity pathology, Bronchial Hyperreactivity physiopathology, Bronchial Provocation Tests, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid cytology, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid immunology, Bronchodilator Agents administration & dosage, Chronic Disease, Collagen metabolism, Disease Models, Animal, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Female, Interleukin-4 metabolism, Interleukin-5 metabolism, Lung immunology, Lung physiopathology, Lung ultrastructure, Male, Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 metabolism, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 metabolism, Methacholine Chloride administration & dosage, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Ovalbumin, Ovariectomy, Pneumonia immunology, Pneumonia pathology, Pneumonia physiopathology, Sex Factors, Time Factors, Transforming Growth Factor beta metabolism, Asthma metabolism, Bronchial Hyperreactivity metabolism, Extracellular Matrix metabolism, Inflammation Mediators metabolism, Lung metabolism, Pneumonia metabolism
- Abstract
There is evidence that sex and sex hormones influence the severity of asthma. Airway and lung parenchyma remodeling and the relationship of ultrastructural changes to airway responsiveness and inflammation in male, female, and oophorectomized mice (OVX) were analyzed in experimental chronic allergic asthma. Seventy-two BALB/c mice were randomly divided into three groups (n=24/each): male, female, and OVX mice, whose ovaries were removed 7 days before the start of sensitization. Each group was further randomized to be sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) or saline. Twenty-four hours after the last challenge, collagen fiber content in airways and lung parenchyma, the volume proportion of smooth muscle-specific actin in alveolar ducts and terminal bronchiole, the amount of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and the number of eosinophils and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were higher in female than male OVA mice. The response of OVX mice was similar to that of males, except that IL-5 remained higher. Nevertheless, after OVA provocation, airway responsiveness to methacholine was higher in males compared with females and OVX mice. In conclusion, sex influenced the remodeling process, but the mechanisms responsible for airway hyperresponsiveness seemed to differ from those related to remodeling.
- Published
- 2010
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