ABSTRACT

Background: The effect of a specific protein kinase A inhibitor H89 on Aquaporin 5 (AQ5) levels, which has a role in the inflammation of asthma pathogenesis, was investigated in this study.

Objective: To prove that H89, which was thought to be a promising agent, may show antiinflammatory activity in the treatment of asthma by causing inhibition of the protein kinase A enzyme that is involved in inflammation.

Methods: Thirty-two Wistar-Albino adult male rats, ranging between 250 and 350 g, were divided into four groups: (a) control group; (b) sham group, administration of 1 ml ovalbumin (OVA) solution intraperitonal (IP) and 0.1 ml OVA dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide intranasally; (c) asthma group, IP + intranasally OVA administration; and (d) H89 group, (IP + intranasally OVA) + 0.1 ml H89. The lungs of the rats were evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically at the end of the study.

Results: The histopathological changes and AQ5 levels of the sham and asthma groups were not statistically different (p > 0.05). However, the parameters were found to be increased in the asthma group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). The alveolar degeneration and vascular congestion were statistically significantly decreased in the H89 group (p < 0.05). The AQ5 levels were reduced in the H89 group, but the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Aquaporin 5 levels and histopathological changes were increased in asthmatic patients, and an improvement was detected with H89 treatment. H89 has an effect on the inflammation of asthma pathogenesis, so it can be thought to be used in asthma treatment. However, more studies are needed to find out the therapy duration and ideal doses of H89 treatment.