Therapeutic effect of melathonin on bronchial hiperresponsiveness to methacoline, airway inflammation and remodeling in Asthma, COPD and Asthma-COPD association of experimental models

• Grant number: 20/11716-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: January 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Iolanda de Fátima Lopes Calvo Tibério
• Grantee: Vitório Crema Scheffer
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/02537-5 - Characterization of asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS): experimental and clinical studies, AP.TEM

Abstract

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) have a high prevalence in society, and their pathophysiology are associated with increased pulmonary inflammation, which also occurs in the overlapping of Asthma and COPD (ACO). Furthermore, melatonin showed modulatory activity in inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, melatonin is a possible therapeutic target in the treatment of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effect of melatonin on pulmonary inflammatory response in experimental models of asthma, COPD and ACO. METHODS: The study was approved by the ethics committee on the use of animals of the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (n.1430/20). Sixty-four Balb/c mice (male, 25-30g, 6-7 weeks old) will be divided into 8 groups. They will be sensitized with ovalbumin for an experimental model of chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation, with elastase for an experimental model of emphysema and sensitized with ovalbumin and elastase for ACO model (n = 8). The treatment groups will receive 15mg/kg melatonin intraperitoneally, and the control groups will receive only saline solution. After the experimental protocol period of 28 days, we will evaluate exhaled nitric oxide, respiratory system mechanics and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. After this evaluation, the lungs will be removed in monobloc with the heart and embedded in paraffin for morphological and histopathological analysis of the pulmonary tissue.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SCHEFFER, V.; RIBEIRO, C.; CAMARGO, L.; FUKUZAKI, S.; RIGHETTI, R.; BEZERRA, S.; SARAIVA-ROMANHOLO, B.; ALMEIDA, F.; TIBERIO, I.; LEICK, E.. Therapeutic Effect of Melatonin on Pulmonary Inflammatory Response in Experimental Models of Asthma, COPD and Asthma-COPD Overlap. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, v. 205, p. 2-pg., 2022-05-01. (20/11716-0, 18/02537-5)