Modulatory role of gabapentin against ovalbumin-induced asthma, bronchial and airway inflammation in mice

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and pharmacology 2018-12, Vol.64, p.18-25
• Main Authors: Yosri, Haidy, Said, Eman, Elkashef, Wagdi F., Gameil, Nariman M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergic asthma; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Asthmatic Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Asthma; Asthma - chemically induced; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - pathology; Body weight; Bronchi - drug effects; Bronchi - pathology; Calcium; Calcium channel blockers; Calcium Channel Blockers - therapeutic use; Calcium channels (L-type); Catalase; Cytokines - immunology; Drug therapy; Food allergies; Gabapentin; Gabapentin - therapeutic use; Histopathology; Il-13; Il-4; Inflammation; Interleukin 13; Interleukin 4; Lung - drug effects; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Lung diseases; Lungs; Male; Mice; Ovalbumin; Respiratory tract; Respiratory tract diseases; Superoxide dismutase; TNFα; Tumor necrosis factor-α
• ISSN: 1382-6689; 1872-7077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2018.09.004

•Gabapentin reduces lung inflammatory cells counts in allergic asthma model.•Gabapentin reduces serum LDH and catalase activities.•Gabapentin enhanced lung GSH concentration and SOD activity.•Gabapentin reduces lung contents of IL-4, IL-13 and TNFα.•Gabapentin improves lung histopathology. Allergic asthma is a type of chronic immune-mediated inflammatory lung disorders with constantly increased worldwide prevalence. Gabapentin is an L-type calcium channel blocker used essentially as antiepileptic and recently has been indicated for management of post-operative and neuropathic pains as an anti-inflammatory. The current study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of gabapentin in a mouse-model of Ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma. Mice received OVA (10 mg) adsorbed on Al(OH)3 on days 0 and 7 and were challenged by exposure to nebulized OVA solution (1%) form days 14–16. Asthma induction was associated with significant biochemical, oxidative and inflammatory imbalance. Daily oral gabapentin (50 mg/kg), significantly reduced lung inflammatory cells counts', serum LDH and catalase activities and lung/body weight index. Moreover, gabapentin significantly increased lung GSH concentration and enhanced SOD activity. Lung contents of TNFα, IL-4 and IL-13 significantly declined as well. IL-13; is the major contributor to airway hyper-responsiveness; the charetrestic hallmark of asthma and IL-4; a major chemoattractant cytokine. Lung histopathology significantly improved parallel to the biochemical improvements. In conclusion; Gabapentin's modulatory effect on IL-4, IL-13 and TNFα activities accounts for the observed anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties.