Tiotropium inhibits pulmonary inflammation and remodelling in a guinea pig model of COPD

115Citations
Citations of this article
69Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

Abstract

Airway remodelling and emphysema are major structural abnormalities in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, pulmonary vascular remodelling may occur and contribute to pulmonary hypertension, a comorbidity of COPD. Increased cholinergic activity in COPD contributes to airflow limitation and, possibly, to inflammation and airway remodelling. This study aimed to investigate the role of acetylcholine in pulmonary inflammation and remodelling using an animal model of COPD. To this aim, guinea pigs were instilled intranasally with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) twice weekly for 12 weeks and were treated, by inhalation, with the long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonist tiotropium. Repeated LPS exposure induced airway and parenchymal neutrophilia, and increased goblet cell numbers, lung hydroxyproline content, airway wall collagen and airspace size. Furthermore, LPS increased the number of muscularised microvessels in the adventitia of cartilaginous airways. Tiotropium abrogated the LPS-induced increase in neutrophils, goblet cells, collagen deposition and muscularised microvessels, but had no effect on emphysema. In conclusion, tiotropium inhibits remodelling of the airways as well as pulmonary inflammation in a guinea pig model of COPD, suggesting that endogenous acetylcholine plays a major role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Copyright©ERS 2011.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Pera, T., Zuidhof, A., Valadas, J., Smit, M., Schoemaker, R. G., Gosens, R., … Meurs, H. (2011). Tiotropium inhibits pulmonary inflammation and remodelling in a guinea pig model of COPD. European Respiratory Journal, 38(4), 789–796. https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00146610

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free