January - March 2015, Volume 11, Issue 1

Gurzu IL, Mitu F, Gorgan LD, Vata LG, Gurzu B, Petris OR

The Anti-Inflammatory Efect of Pulmonary Renin Angiotensin System Blockade

Acta Endo (Buc) 2015, 11 (1): 7-12
doi: 10.4183/aeb.2015.7

Introduction. Even if the last decade brings new information about the existence of the local pulmonary renin-angiotensin system (RAS), published results about its involvement in the progression of various pulmonary diseases remain contradictory. Methods. Using an experimental model of pulmonary allergic disease induced by ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization we studied effects of intratracheal (i.t.) administrated AT1 receptor blocker losartan (LOS) on inflammatory processes supposed to be mediated by pulmonary RAS. Alterations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cellularity and variations of airway reactivity from OVA sensitized and challenged rats after LOS or vehicle i.t. instillation were comparatively assessed. Results. Blocking of RAS decreased the total BALF cellularity and polymorphonuclear cell count. LOS instillation also reduced the increases in specific airway resistance (sRaw) induced by inhalation of allergen (with 20%) or acetylcholine (with at least 15%). Conclusions. Our data suggest that expressly blocking of local RAS by i.t. administration of LOS have inhibitory effects on allergen - induced lung inflammation and sustain the participation of pulmonary RAS, activated by local or systemic factors, in lung diseases.

Keywords: renin angiotensin system, inflammation, specific airway resistance, bronchoalveolar lavage, losartan, intratracheal instillation, rat.

Correspondence: Bogdan Gurzu MD, “Gr T Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, School of Medicine, Department of Functional Sciences, Str Universitatii Nr 16, Iasi, 700115, Romania, E-mail: bgurzu@yahoo.com