POSTER PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS
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Salons 10-12.
FRIDAY, 5:45-6:30 PM
Secor ER Jr, Pensa M, Singh A, Carson W, Guernsey LA,
Thrall RS.
Oral bromelain treatment reduces airway inflammation
in an ovalbumin-induced model of allergic airway disease.
University of Connecticut School of Medicine esecor@uchc.edu
PURPOSE: Bromelain, a proteolytic extract from
pineapple, has reported anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities.
However its effects on allergic airway disease (asthma) have not been
investigated. Previous work in our laboratory has demonstrated that
intraperitoneal administration of bromelain attenuates airway inflammation
(eosinophils, CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, IL-13) in an ovalbumin-induced
allergic airway disease (OVA-AAD) model. The present study was designed
to determine the effect of oral bromelain treatment on bronchoalveolar
lavage (BAL) leukocytes and cytokines in an OVA-AAD murine model.
METHODS: The dose-related toxicity of oral (gavage)
bromelain (1-200 mg/kg twice daily) was determined in naïve C57BL/6
mice. To establish AAD, mice were sensitized with OVA/alum and then
challenged with daily OVA aerosols. Mice were treated orally with phosphate
buffer saline (PBS) or 200 mg/kg bromelain daily (day 1 through 4),
received OVA aerosols on day 2 -4 and were sacrificed on day 5. BAL
leukocyte, differentials, and lymphocyte phenotypes via flow cytometry,
were determined and compared between groups. BAL IL-5 and IL-13 concentrations
were determined by ELISA.
RESULTS: In na•ve mice, bromelain was well tolerated
and no significant differences were noted between PBS and Bromelain
treated mice in BAL: leukocytes, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+ lymphocytes, or IL-5
and IL-13 concentrations. In AAD mice, bromelain treatment significantly
reduced % BAL eosinophils, CD8+ lymphocytes and IL-13 levels when comparing
the PBS controls to Bromelain treated mice (Table 1). No difference
in CD4+ cells or IL-5 was noted in similar comparisons.
CONCLUSION: Oral Bromelain treatment decreased
BAL eosinophils, CD8+ lymphocytes and IL-13 concentrations in an OVA-AAD
model. Bromelain or related compounds may have similar effects in the
clinical management of conditions such as asthma or allergy.
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