The anti-inflammatory action of
silver nanoparticles (NPs) has been reported in a murine model of
asthma in a previous study. But more specific mechanisms of
silver NPs in an attenuation of allergic airway
inflammation have not yet been established. Vascular and mucous changes are believed to contribute largely in pathophysiology in
asthma. Among various factors related to vascular changes,
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) plays a pivotal role in vascular changes in
asthma.
Mucin proteins MUC5AC and MUC5B have been implicated as markers of goblet cell
metaplasia in lung pathologies. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of
silver NPs on
VEGF signaling pathways and mucus hypersecretion.
Ovalbumin (OVA)-inhaled female BALBc mice were used to evaluate the role of
silver NPs and the related molecular mechanisms in allergic airway disease. In this study, with an OVA-induced murine model of allergic airway disease, it was found that the increased levels of
hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α,
VEGF, phosphatidylinositol-3
kinase (PI3K) and phosphorylated-Akt levels, and mucous
glycoprotein expression (Muc5ac) in lung tissues were substantially decreased by the administration of
silver NPs. In summary,
silver NPs substantially suppressed mucus hypersecretion and PI3K/HIF-1α/
VEGF signaling pathway in an allergic airway
inflammation.