EFFECT OF SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ON A RABBIT MODEL OF CHRONIC ALLERGIC-ASTHMA

Background: In bronchial asthma, inflammatory cells infiltrating the a irway mucosa release oxygen radicals that cause tissue damage and ampl ify the airway inflammation. Antioxidant enzymes may have a protective effect on the airways. Objective: The purpose of this study was to de termine whether treatment of a rabbit model of chronic allergic asthma with the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase conjugated to polyet hylene glycol will protect the airways from oxygen radical injury, dec rease airway inflammation, and attenuate the asthmatic response. Metho ds: New Zealand white rabbits were sensitized to ragweed. Baseline his tamine PC30, ragweed PD30, and early and late phase asthmatic response to ragweed bronchial challenge were measured. The rabbits were then r andomized into two groups that received every 48 hours an intravenous dose of either superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol 10,000 U/kg or inactivated superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol as control, foll owed by a 1-hour exposure to aerosolized ragweed extract. After 4 week s the rabbits had a second bronchial challenge, were sacrificed, and l ung histology was studied. Results: On the posttreatment challenge, th e superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol group had a rise in ragweed PD30, while the control group had no change in ragweed PD30, and two of five rabbits in the superoxide dismutase-polyethylene glycol group did not have an early or late phase asthmatic response, while all rabb its in the control group had an asthmatic response. There was no signi ficant difference in lung histology between both groups. Conclusion: A rabbit model of chronic allergic asthma treated with superoxide dismu tase-polyethylene glycol showed a trend of improvement in airway respo nsiveness but no significant effect on airway inflammation.