Study of the therapeutic action of melatonin in experimental models of asthma, COPD, and the asthma-COPD association

• Grant number: 23/10955-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2023
• End date: August 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Edna Aparecida Leick
• Grantee: Marcela de Sousa João
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are highly prevalent respiratory diseases in the current population. Both conditions exhibit airflow limitation and share increased airway inflammation as an essential component in their physiopathology. Additionally, there is the Asthma-COPD Overlap Syndrome (ACO), a condition where features of both diseases coexist. Within this context, melatonin may play a role in reducing airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the therapeutic effect of melatonin in reducing airway inflammation in experimental models of asthma, COPD, and ACO. METHODS: The study was approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the University of São Paulo Medical School (No. 1430/20). One hundred twenty-eight Balb/c mice (males, 25-30g, 6-7 weeks old) were allocated into 3 experimental groups: The chronic allergic pulmonary inflammation model sensitized with ovalbumin; The emphysema model sensitized with elastase; And the ACO model sensitized with both ovalbumin and elastase. The treatment group received 15mg/kg intraperitoneal melatonin, while the control group received only saline solution. After the experimental protocol period, the lungs were harvested and paraffin-embedded for lung tissue evaluation. The expression of the following factors will be analyzed by immunohistochemistry: anti-iNOS, anti-IL (2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 13, 17), anti-TNF-alpha, anti-TGF-Beta, anti-MMP-9, and anti-TIMP1.