Effects of oleanolic acid on pulmonary morphofunctional and biochemical variables in experimental acute lung injury

• Published in: Respiratory physiology & neurobiology 2011-12, Vol.179 (2), p.129-136
• Main Authors: Santos, Raquel S, Silva, Pedro L, Oliveira, Gisele P, Cruz, Fernanda F, Ornellas, Débora S, Morales, Marcelo M, Fernandes, Janaina, Lanzetti, Manuella, Valença, Samuel S, Pelosi, Paolo, Gattass, Cerli R, Rocco, Patricia R.M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute Lung Injury - immunology; Acute Lung Injury - pathology; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Chemokines; Chemokines - analysis; Chemokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines; Dexamethasone; Disease Models, Animal; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histopathology; Inflammation - immunology; Inflammation - pathology; Lung - drug effects; Lung - immunology; Lung - pathology; Lung mechanics; Male; Medical Education; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Oleanolic Acid - pharmacology; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - immunology; Pulmonary/Respiratory; Reactive Oxygen Species - analysis; Reactive Oxygen Species - immunology; Respiratory Mechanics - drug effects; Respiratory Mechanics - immunology; Vertebrates: respiratory system
• ISSN: 1569-9048; 1878-1519
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resp.2011.07.008

Abstract We analysed the effects of oleanolic acid (OA) on lung mechanics and histology and its possible mechanisms of action in experimental acute lung injury (ALI). BALB/c mice were randomly divided into Control (saline, ip ) and ALI (paraquat, 25 mg/kg, ip ) groups. At 1 h, both groups were treated with saline (SAL, 50 μl ip ), OA (10 mg/kg ip ), or dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg/kg ip ). At 24 h, lung static elastance, viscoelastic pressure, and alveolar collapse reduced more after OA compared to DEXA administration. Tumour necrosis factor-α, macrophage migration inhibitory factor, interleukin-6, interferon-γ, and transforming growth factor-β mRNA expressions in lung tissue diminished similarly after OA or DEXA. Conversely, only OA avoided reactive oxygen species generation and yielded a significant decrease in nitrite concentration. OA and DEXA restored the reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio and catalase activity while increasing glutathione peroxidase induced by paraquat. In conclusion, OA improved lung morphofunction by modulating the release of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress.