Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in a mouse model of bronchial asthma and H1N1 2009 infection

Photocatalytic filters installed in air purifiers have been used to purify spaces by decomposing allergenic substances. However, we have not found any reports that evaluate the effectiveness of photocatalytic filters in suppressing allergic reactions in living organisms. In this study, we intratracheally instilled ovalbumin (OVA) into OVA-sensitized mice after the OVA was photocatalyzed by a titanium dioxide (TiO2) filter, and verified the experimental model for evaluating the allergy-suppressing effect of photocatalysts. Mice were sensitized to OVA (10 µg/mouse) four times, and were intratracheally instilled with OVA (10 µg/mouse) after photocatalysis three times. Non-sensitized animals were instilled with normal saline following the same exposure schedule. The mice were dissected 24 h after final exposure. The OVA after photocatalysis significantly decreased the number of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and the concentration of OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 in serum, which were elevated in untreated OVA. Moreover, our experimental model showed the suppression of allergic reactions in mice, along with the decomposition of OVA after photocatalysis using the photocatalytic filter. Taken together, our experimental model for evaluating allergic reactions in the respiratory tract suggested that the allergy-suppressing effect of the photocatalytic filter can be evaluated.

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Azithromycin Attenuates Lung Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia by Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00457-13 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 57 (8) ◽

pp. 3883-3888 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Koichi Yamada ◽

Katsunori Yanagihara ◽

Norihito Kaku ◽

Yosuke Harada ◽

Yohei Migiyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mouse Model ◽

Bronchoalveolar Lavage ◽

Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽

Lung Inflammation ◽

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ◽

Lavage Fluid ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Control Group ◽

Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽

Content Type

ABSTRACTAcinetobacter baumanniiis one of the main pathogens that cause ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and is associated with a high rate of mortality. Little is known about the efficacy of macrolides againstA. baumannii. In order to confirm the efficacy of azithromycin (AZM) against VAP caused by multidrug-resistantA. baumannii(MDRAB), we used a mouse model that mimics VAP by placement of a plastic tube in the bronchus. AZM (10 and 100 mg/kg of body weight) was administered subcutaneously every 24 h beginning at 3 h after inoculation. Phosphate-buffered saline was administered as the control. Survival was evaluated over 7 days. At 48 h postinfection, mice were sacrificed and the numbers of viable bacteria in lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were compared. Histopathological analysis of lung specimens was also performed. The treatment groups displayed significantly longer survival than the control group (P< 0.05). AZM did not have an antimicrobial effect. Histopathological examination of lung specimens indicated that the progression of lung inflammation was prevented in the AZM-treated groups. Furthermore, total cell and neutrophil counts, as well as cytokine levels, in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly decreased (P< 0.05) in the AZM-treated groups. AZM may have a role for the treatment of VAP with MDRAB because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

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