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Abstract

An essential pathological phenotype of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is emphysema or lung tissue destruction. The study aims to assess docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a precursor for specialized pro-resolving mediators, as a treatment of emphysema. Albino mice were challenged with porcine pancreatic elastase on day 1 and bacterial lipopolysaccharide on day 21 to induce emphysema. The pathological condition was then treated with docosahexaenoic acid for 7 consecutive days. The animals were treated with three experimental doses of docosahexaenoic acid (3, 10 and 30 mg/kg b.w.) and results were compared with another 2 groups receiving standard drugs, i.e., corticosteroid and bronchodilators. Histopathology, automated morphometry, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung volume measurements were performed. The experiments showed that the 30 mg/kg dose of DHA has treatment effects similar to the standard drugs. The neutrophil is an inflammatory mediator, and the new treatment was able to reduce the neutrophil count in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Lung volumes were reduced suggesting lesser hyperinflation. Histopathology confirms more inferior airway obstruction in the treatment groups. Even though the experimental doses of docosahexaenoic acid were not superior to the effects of corticosteroids but has shown some signs of improvement in exacerbation model of emphysema in mice and has promised to become a therapy for management of COPD in future.