Effect of Corticosteroid Therapy on the Acute Injury and Recovery Stage of Oleic Acid Induced Lung Injury in the Rat

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Abstract
In the rat model of lung injury induced by oleic acid (OA), we studied the effect of corticosteroid therapy on pulmonary inflammation and compliance at acute (1 day post OA) and recovery (3 and 7 days post OA) stages. Methylprednisolone (MP) and dexamethasone (DM) were examined for therapeutic benefit in this model. Histologic examination, lung compliance, and analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were used to assess lung injury. Our results demonstrated that, at 1 day post OA, both steroids effectively reduced pulmonary inflammation and restored lung compliance when compared to animals that received only OA. In comparison to DM, MP was more effective in inhibiting the pulmonary inflammation induced by OA, but was less effective in restoring lung compliance. However, at 3 and 7 days post OA, cell and/or protein levels in BAL fluid from both MP- and DM-treated OA animals were significantly higher than levels observed in animals that received only OA. Lung compliance returned to normal by 3 days in animals that received only OA. This effect, however, was blocked in OA animals that were treated with either steroid, MP, or DM. Our data suggest that steroid therapy can be beneficial in the acute stage of OA-induced lung injury, but appears to be detrimental during the early recovery stage, perhaps by inhibiting the repair process.