Clarithromycin Attenuates Radiation-Induced Lung Injury in Mice.

Abstract

Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) is a common and unavoidable complication of thoracic radiotherapy. The current study was conducted to evaluate the ability of clarithromycin (CLA) to prevent radiation-induced pneumonitis, oxidative stress, and lung fibrosis in an animal model. C57BL/6J mice were assigned to control, irradiation only, irradiation plus CLA, and CLA only groups. Test mice received single thoracic exposures to radiation and/or oral CLA (100 mg/kg/day). Histopathologic findings and markers of inflammation, fibrosis, and oxidative stress were compared by group. On a microscopic level, CLA inhibited macrophage influx, alveolar fibrosis, parenchymal collapse, consolidation, and epithelial cell changes. The concentration of collagen in lung tissue was lower in irradiation plus CLA mice. Radiation-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, TNF receptor 1, acetylated nuclear factor kappa B, cyclooxygenase 2, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 were also attenuated by CLA. Expression levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and heme oxygenase 1, transforming growth factor-β1, connective tissue growth factor, and type I collagen in radiation-treated lungs were also attenuated by CLA. These findings indicate that CLA ameliorates the deleterious effects of thoracic irradiation in mice by reducing pulmonary inflammation, oxidative damage, and fibrosis.

• Authors: Seung Jun Lee, Chin-ok Yi, Rok Won Heo, Dae Hyun Song, Yu Ji Cho, Yi Yeong Jeong, Ki Mun Kang, Gu Seob Roh, Jong Deog Lee
• Journal: PloS one (PLoS One) Vol. 10 Issue 6 Pg. e0131671 ( 2015) ISSN: 1932-6203 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26114656 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Radiation-Protective Agents
• Clarithromycin

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Body Weight (drug effects, radiation effects)
• Clarithromycin (administration & dosage)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Fibrosis
• Lung (drug effects, pathology, radiation effects)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Radiation Pneumonitis (mortality, pathology, prevention & control)
• Radiation-Protective Agents (administration & dosage)