Regulation of allergic lung inflammation in rats: Interaction between estradiol and corticosterone

Objective: One third of asthmatic women report a decreased expiratory peak flow during menses. Since asthma is characterized by lung inflammation and bronchopulmonary hyperresponsiveness, we investigated the role played by estradiol in allergic lung inflammation. Methods: Cell migration to the lungs of allergic female rats subjected to oophorectomy (OVx) was compared to that in their sham-operated (sham) control counterparts. Seven days after OVx or sham operation, the rats were sensitized intraperitoneally with ovalbumin (OA, 1 mg/kg) suspended in aluminum hydroxide (day 0). At day 7, a subcutaneous booster of OA was performed and an aerosolized OA challenge was carried out at day 14. One day later (day 15), the rats were killed and cell counts were performed in bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL), in peripheral blood and in bone marrow lavages. Results: After the antigen challenge, OVx rats showed a significant decrease in cell migration to the lung as compared to sham-operated rats. Differential analyses of BAL revealed a reduced number of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils. In contrast, in bone marrow as well as in the peripheral blood the numbers of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils were increased relative to sham controls. Mast cell numbers were similar in both groups. The estradiol receptor antagonist tamoxifen decreased the allergic lung inflammation in intact rats down to levels similar to those found in untreated OVx rats. In contrast, 17beta-estradiol replacement in OVx rats reestablished the allergic lung inflammation, as observed by an elevated number of eosinophils, mononuclear cells and neutrophils recovered in BAL. Similarly, an elevated number of inflammatory cells were quantified in BAL from allergic OVx rats when corticosterone effects were blocked with metyrapone or RU-486. Conclusion: Our results suggest that estradiol has proinflammatory actions on the allergic lung response, and these actions seem to be mediated, at least in part, by endogenous glucocorticoids. Copyright (C) 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.