Anti-inflammatory effect of thalidomide on H1N1 influenza virus-induced pulmonary injury in mice

Inflammation. 2014 Dec;37(6):2091-8. doi: 10.1007/s10753-014-9943-9.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of thalidomide (Thd) on H1N1-induced acute lung injury in mice. BALB/C mice were infected intranasally with influenza A virus (H1N1) and then treated with Thd at a dose of 100 or 200 mg/kg/day for 7 days. Weight loss and survival of mice were monitored for 14 days after virus challenge, and the serum and lung tissues were collected at 4 days for histological and biochemical analysis. The results showed that Thd significantly improved the survival rate, reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells and cytokine (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) and chemokine (e.g., RANTES, IP-10) levels, and inhibited activated p-NFκB p65 in infected mice. These findings suggested that Thd may attenuate H1N1-induced pulmonary injury and thus may find use in the treatment of viral diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Inflammation Mediators / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / drug effects*
  • Lung Injury / drug therapy*
  • Lung Injury / metabolism
  • Lung Injury / virology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Orthomyxoviridae Infections / metabolism
  • Random Allocation
  • Thalidomide / pharmacology
  • Thalidomide / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Thalidomide