Combined Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine and Clarithromycin on Bleomycin Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis

Combined therapy with clarithromycin (CLTR) and N–acetyl cysteine (NAC) may be useful in diseases with impaired oxidant-antioxidant balance, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen deposition such as pulmonary fibrosis. Activated inflammatory cells which accumulate in the lower airways may release increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when accompanied with a deficiency in glutathione, the major component of the lung antioxidant defense system, leading to lung injury and fibrosis. The aim of this study was to examine the combined effect of CLTR, and NNAC on bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in rats. Bleomycin was administered by single intra tracheal instillation to Wistar rats to induce lung fibrosis. Rats under study were orally administered with NAC (3 mmol/Kg), and CLTR (20 mg/Kg) from day 4 to 21, after a single intra tracheal instillation of bleomycin (2.5 U/Kg) or saline on day 1. Combined treatment with CLTR and NAC significantly decreased the augmented collagen deposition in bleomycin exposed rats (P