Evaluation of choline as an anti- inflammatory agent for the treatment of asthma

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic immune inflammatory disease characterized by variable airflow obstruction and increased bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). Inflammation is the hallmark of asthma and allergic disorders. The incidence of asthma has increased world over, which presents both public health and economic concerns. Asthma results from constriction or narrowing of bronchial tube caused by muscle spasm and airway narrowing due to immune inflammation. Efforts are therefore required to find out appropriate anti-inflammatory drug with no or minimal side-effect for management of the disease. The current asthma therapy is given to control symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and or shortness of breath. However, the medications do not relieve the underlying inflammatory process of asthma completely. Inhaled glucocorticosteroids are at present the most effective controller medications. But controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that long-term treatment with high doses of inhaled glucocorticosteroids may be associated with systemic side-effects, including skin thinning and easy bruising, adrenal suppression and decreased bone mineral density. Choline, as a lipotropic factor is needed for maintaining cell structure and to facilitate the movement of fats in and out of cells. Choline, the major constituent of phosphatidylcholine (PC), is found in soybean, liver, oatmeal, cabbage and cauliflower. Previous studies with choline showed anti-inflammatory activity in arthritis animal model. But, whether choline had anti-inflammatory activity in the airways remains to be investigated. The present study (chapter 2) aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of choline in mouse model of allergic airway inflammation. Choline (1 mg/kg) was administered via oral gavage or intranasal (i.n.) route before and after ovalbumin (OVA) challenge in sensitized mice. Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine was measured in mice by whole body plethysmography.