A Novel Oral Glutarimide Derivative XC8 Suppresses Sephadex-Induced Lung Inflammation in Rats and Ovalbumin-induced Acute and Chronic Asthma in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Background: Corticosteroids are the preferred option to treat asthma, however, they possess serious side effects and are inefficient in 10% of patients. Thus, new therapeutic approaches for asthma treatment are required. Objective: To study the efficacy of a novel glutarimide derivative XC8 in a Sephadex-induced lung inflammation in rats as well as in acute and chronic ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma in guinea pigs. Method: Rats were treated with 0.18-18 mg/kg of XC8 intragastrically 4 times (24 h and 1 h prior to and 24 h and 45 h after endotracheal administration of Sephadex). The number of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveaolar lavages (BAL) was determined. Guinea pigs were treated with 0.045 -1.4 mg/kg (acute asthma) or with 1.4 and 7.0 mg/kg of XC8 (chronic asthma) intragastrically following the sensitization with ovalbumin and during aerosol challenge. Lung inflammation, numbers of eosinophils (BAL and lung tissue), goblet cells, degranulating mast cells and specific airway resistance (sRAW) were determined. The comparator steroid drug budesonide (0.5 mg/kg for rats and 0.16 mg/kg for guinea pigs) was administered by inhalation. Results: XC8 reduced influx of eosinophils into BAL in Sephadex-induced lung inflammation model in rats (by 2.6-6.4 times). Treatment of acute asthma in guinea pigs significantly reduced eosinophils in guinea pigs in BAL (from 55% to 30%-39% of the total cell count) and goblet cells in lung tissue. In a model of acute and chronic asthma, XC8 reduced significantly the number of eosinophils and degranulating mast cells in the lung tissue. Treatment with XC8 but not with budesonide decreased the specific airway resistance in acute and chronic asthma model up to the level of naive animals. Conclusion: XC8 induced a profound anti-inflammatory effect by reducing eosinophils in BAL and eosinophils and degranulating mast cell numbers in the airway tissue. The anti-asthmatic effect of XC8 is comparable to that of budesonide. Moreover, in contrast to budesonide, XC8 was capable to reduce goblet cells and airway resistance.