Inhibition of ozone-induced lung neutrophilia and nuclear factor-kappa B binding activity by vitamin A in rat

Vitamin A binds to retinoic acid receptors, which in turn may interact with other transcription factors. We determined its effect (2500 and 5000 IU/kg ) on nuclear factor-kappa B binding activity in the lung, airway inflammati on and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in rats exposed to ozone. Ozone (3 ppm , 3 h) caused neutrophil influx into bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (16.2 +/- 0.8 x 10(5) cells/ml, p < 0.01) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (-logPC( 200)ACh = 2.54 +/- 0.19, p < 0.05, compared to control animals, respectivel y). Vitamin A inhibited this neutrophilia dose-dependently together with th e increased DNA-binding activity of nuclear factor-kappa B in lung extracts . Vitamin A did not affect bronchial hyperresponsiveness at both doses. Vit amin A inhibits ozone-induced neutrophilic inflammation through a reduction in nuclear factor-kappa B DNA binding activity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.