Anti-inflammatory effect of methoxyphenamine compound in rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

AIM: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of methoxyphenamine compound (MC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rats by measurement of proinflammatory cytokines, total and differential white cell counts (WCC) of bronchroalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). METHODS: Adult rat model of COPD (COPD group) was induced by intratracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharides and exposure to cigarette smoke. Treatment groups received different dosage of MC (3, 9, and 27 mg daily, MC group) or prednisone (0.25 mg daily, P group) respectively. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) of BALF were determined by ELISA. Total and differential WCC were performed after Giemsa staining. RESULTS: The levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, TGF-beta, total and differential WCC in BALF of MC groups were significantly decreased than that of COPD group (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference among MC groups. There was no significant decrease in the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and count of alveolar macrophages in P group compared to those of COPD group. More significant decrease in total WCC and neutrophils was found in P than in COPD group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: MC has anti-inflammmatory effect in the rats with COPD.