Hirudin relieves airway mucus hypersecretion and inflammation in Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways caused by multiple allergens or other factors, involving multiple cells and cellular components, Currently, the main drugs used to treat asthma include glucocorticoids, β-2 agonists, leukotriene receptor antagonists, theophyllines, anticholinergics, mast cell stabilizers, and cytokine monoclonal antibodies. Hirudin is an active ingredient extracted from the leeches and its salivary glands. However, there is no relevant articles explaining the relationship between hirudin and Asthma. For the present study, we hypothesized that hirudin ameliorates the pathology in the OVA-induced mouse asthma model by its anti-inflammatory effects and alleviates the vicious airway remodeling. The lung tissues and HE staining was performed, we therefore found hirudin ameliorates the pathology of OVA-induced asthma. To further detect the treatment of hirudin on asthma, we then performed AB-PAS staining and western blot, and found that hirudin ameliorates airway mucus hypersecretion. The results of Immunocytochemistry, Toluidine blue staining and western blot also proofed that hirudin ameliorates airway inflammation. In conclusion, hirudin ameliorates the pathology in the OVA-induced mouse asthma model by its anti-inflammatory effects and alleviates the vicious airway remodeling, which is potentially amenable to therapeutic manipulation for clinical application.