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S-carboxymethylcysteine normalises airway responsiveness in sensitised and challenged mice

¹ Dept of Paediatrics, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, CO, USA. ² Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan.

CORRESPONDENCE: E. W. Gelfand, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA. Fax: 1 3032702105. E-mail: gelfande{at}njc.org

Keywords: Airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophils, neutrophils, S-carboxymethylcysteine

Received: July 30, 2004
Accepted June 10, 2005

S-carboxymethylcysteine (S-CMC) has been used as a mucoregulator in respiratory diseases. However, the mechanism of action of S-CMC on allergic airway inflammation has not yet been defined.

In the present study, BALB/c mice were initially sensitised and challenged to ovalbumin (OVA) and, weeks later, re-challenged with OVA (secondary challenge). S-CMC (5–100 mg·kg^–1) was administered from 2 days before the secondary challenge through to the day of assay.

Mice developed airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) 6 h after the secondary challenge and increased numbers of neutrophils were present in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. At 72 h after secondary challenge, mice again developed AHR, but the BAL fluid contained large numbers of eosinophils. S-CMC treatment was found to reduce AHR and neutrophilia at 6 h, as well as eosinophilia and AHR at 72 h. These effects appeared to be dose dependent. Goblet cell hyperplasia, observed at 72 h, was reduced by S-CMC. In BAL fluid, increased levels of interferon-, interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-10 and decreased levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were detected.

In conclusion, the data indicate that S-carboxymethylcysteine is effective in reducing airway hyperresponsiveness and airway inflammation at two distinct phases of the response to the secondary allergen challenge in sensitised mice.

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