Amitriptyline Downregulates Chronic Inflammatory Response to Biomaterial in Mice
INFLAMMATION
Authors: Scheuermann, Karina; Ariza Orellano, Laura Alejandra; Rodrigues Viana, Celso Tarso; Machado, Clara Tolentino; Takahashi Lazari, Marcela Guimaraes; Aggum Capettini, Luciano Santos; Andrade, Silvia Passos; Campos, Paula Peixoto
Abstract
Recent data has signaled that in addition to its therapeutic indications as antidepressant and analgesic, amitriptyline (AM) exerts anti-inflammatory effects in humans and experimental animal models of acute inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that this compound could also modulate the chronic inflammatory process induced by synthetic matrix in mice. Polyether-polyurethane sponge disks were implanted subcutaneously in 9-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. The animals received by oral gavage 5.0 mg/kg of amitriptyline for seven consecutive days in two treatment regimens. In the first series, the treatment was initiated on the day of surgery and the implants removed at day 7 post-implantation. For the assessment of the effect of amitriptyline on chronic inflammation, the treatment was initiated 7 days post-implantation and the sponge discs removed 14 after implantation. The inflammatory markers evaluated, myeloperoxidase - MPO, nitrite content, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, CXCL1 and CCL2 levels, and NF-kappa B transcription factor activation were reduced in implants when the treatment began 7 days post-implantation (chronic inflammation). In contrast, only mast cell number, MPO activity and activation of NF-kappa B pathway decreased when the treatment began soon after implantation (sub-acute inflammation) in 7-day old implants. The anti-inflammatory effects of amitriptyline described here, extend its range of actions as a potential agent able to attenuate long-term inflammatory processes.
Cutaneous lewisite exposure causes acute lung injury
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
Authors: Manzoor, Shajer; Mariappan, Nithya; Zafar, Iram; Wei, Chih-Chang; Ahmad, Aamir; Surolia, Ranu; Foote, Jeremy B.; Agarwal, Anupam; Ahmad, Shama; Athar, Mohammad; Antony, Veena B.; Ahmad, Aftab
Abstract
Lewisite is a strong vesicating and chemical warfare agent. Because of the rapid transdermal absorption, cutaneous exposure to lewisite can also elicit severe systemic injury. Lewisite (2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/kg) was applied to the skin of Ptch1(+/-)/SKH-1 mice and acute lung injury (ALI) was assessed after 24 hours. Arterial blood gas measurements showed hypercapnia and hypoxemia in the lewisite-exposed group. Histological evaluation of lung tissue revealed increased levels of proinflammatory neutrophils and a dose-dependent increase in structural changes indicative of injury. Increased inflammation was also confirmed by altered expression of cytokines, including increased IL-33, and a dose-dependent elevation of CXCL1, CXCL5, and GCSF was observed in the lung tissue. In the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of lewisite-exposed animals, there was a significant increase in HMGB1, a damage-associated molecular pattern molecule, as well as elevated CXCL1 and CXCL5, which coincided with an influx of neutrophils to the lungs. Complete blood cell analysis revealed eosinophilia and altered neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios as a consequence of lewisite exposure. Mean platelet volume and RBC distribution width, which are predictors of lung injury, were also increased in the lewisite group. These data demonstrate that cutaneous lewisite exposure causes ALI and may contribute to mortality in exposed populations.