Protective effect of dexpanthenol on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats

Abstract

Despite extensive studies, there is no effective treatment currently available other than pirfenidone for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A protective effect of pantothenic acid and its derivatives on cell damage produced by oxygen radicals has been reported, but it has not been tested in bleomycin (BLM)--induced pulmonary fibrosis in rats. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the preventive effect of dexpanthenol (Dxp) on pulmonary fibrosis. Thirty-two rats were assigned to four groups as follows: (1) control group, (2) dexpanthenol (Dxp) group; 500 mg/kg Dxp continued intraperitoneally for 14 days, (3) bleomycin (BLM) group; a single intratracheal injection of BLM (2.5 mg/kg body weight in 0.25-ml phosphate buffered saline), and (4) BLM + Dxp-treated group; 500 mg/kg Dxp was administered 1 h before the intratracheal BLM injection and continued for 14 days i.p. The histopathological grades of lung inflammation and collagen deposition, tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were measured. BLM provoked inflammation and collagen deposition (p < 0.0001), with a marked increase in myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity resembling increased inflammatory activity (p < 0.0001), which was prevented by Dxp (p < 0.0001, p = 0.02). BLM reduced tissue activities of SOD, GPx, and CAT compared to controls (p = 0.01, 0.03, 0.009). MDA was increased with BLM (p = 0.003). SOD (p = 0.001) and MDA (p = 0.016) levels were improved in group 4. The CAT levels in the BLM + Dxp group were close to those in the control group (p > 0.05). We showed that Dxp significantly prevents BLM-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of Dxp in the treatment of lung fibrosis.

Untitled

“…The elevation in the levels of glycoprotein components as observed in the study on BLM induction may be due to the secretion of cell membrane glycoconjugates into the circulation 14,36,40 and may also be due to increased deposition of macromolecular components, which may be a physiological adjustment to the pathological process. Elevated levels of glycoprotein components have been already reported during pulmonary fibrosis 14,16,36,43 Natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols from green tea extracts are known for their capability of reducing the expression of ECM genes 44 .…”

“…Lung inflammation is considered to be a major contributing factor in the induction of pulmonary fibrosis 14,15,33 . ROS such as superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, and hydroxyl radical are reported as mediators of lung inflammatory processes 33 .…”

“…Elevated levels of glycoprotein components have been already reported during pulmonary fibrosis 14,16,36,43 Natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols from green tea extracts are known for their capability of reducing the expression of ECM genes 44 .…”

“…In addition, a reduction in antioxidants has been reported in IPF lungs, and the resulting oxidant-antioxidant imbalance has been suggested in the progression of IPF 9,14,17 .…”

Protective effects of dexpanthenol in an experimental model of necrotizing enterocolitis

“…Those in Groups 2 and 4 were treated with Dxp (Bepanthene ampul®, 500 mg, Bayer Corp., Istanbul, Turkey) and were administered once a day by IP injection at a dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight, starting from birth until postnatal day four. The dosage of Dxp was chosen based on the previous studies which have been reported to cause marked antioxidative effects in rats [18,19].…”