Ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um(®)) in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Abstract

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic condition characterized by progressive scarring of lung parenchyma. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an ultramicronized preparation of palmitoylethanolamide (PEA-um(®)), an endogenous fatty acid amide, in mice subjected to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was induced in male mice by a single intratracheal administration of saline with bleomycin sulphate (1mg/kg body weight) in a volume of 100μL. PEA-um(®) was injected intraperitoneally at 1, 3 or 10mg/kg 1h after bleomycin instillation and daily thereafter. Animals were sacrificed after 7 and 21days by pentobarbitone overdose. One cohort of mice was sacrificed after seven days of bleomycin administration, followed by bronchoalveloar lavage and determination of myeloperoxidase activity, lung edema and histopathology features. In the 21-day cohort, mortality was assessed daily, and surviving mice were sacrificed followed by the above analyses together with immunohistochemical localization of CD8, tumor necrosis factor-α, CD4, interleukin-1β, transforming growth factor-β, inducible nitric oxide synthase and basic fibroblast growth factor. Compared to bleomycin-treated mice, animals that received also PEA-um(®) (3 or 10mg/kg) had significantly decreased weight loss, mortality, inflammation, lung damage at the histological level, and lung fibrosis at 7 and 21days. PEA-um(®) (1mg/kg) did not significantly inhibit the inflammation response and lung fibrosis. This study demonstrates that PEA-um(®) (3 and 10mg/kg) reduces the extent of lung inflammation in a mouse model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• Authors: Rosanna Di Paola, Daniela Impellizzeri, Roberta Fusco, Marika Cordaro, Rosalba Siracusa, Rosalia Crupi, Emanuela Esposito, Salvatore Cuzzocrea
• Journal: Pharmacological research (Pharmacol Res) Vol. 111 Pg. 405-412 (09 2016) ISSN: 1096-1186 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 27402190 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Amides
• Biomarkers
• Ethanolamines
• Inflammation Mediators
• Palmitic Acids
• Bleomycin
• palmidrol

Topics

• Amides
• Animals
• Biomarkers (metabolism)
• Bleomycin
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Compounding
• Ethanolamines (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Inflammation Mediators (metabolism)
• Lung (drug effects, metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Mice
• Palmitic Acids (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Particle Size
• Pneumonia (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Pulmonary Edema (chemically induced, metabolism, pathology, prevention & control)
• Time Factors
• Weight Loss