Effect of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor on acute inflammation in mice and rats.

AIM: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (rh-bFGF). METHODS: Several inflammation models such as croton oil-induced ear swelling, carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, and acute peritonitis in rats or mice were prepared. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured by hydroxyamine method, nitric oxide (NO) concentration by Griess reaction assay, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity by NADPH-diaphoras stain assay, N-acetyl-beta- D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity by colorimetry, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by radioimmunoassay (RIA), malondialdehyde (MDA) content by thiobarbituric acid (TBA) fluorescence technique, and protein content by Coomassie brilliant blue method in peritoneal exudate in rats. RESULTS: Recombinant human bFGF 2, 4 kU/kg im inhibited croton oil-induced ear swelling and carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice. In addition, rh-bFGF 2, 4 kU/kg im reduced neutrophil counts in the rat peritoneal exudate, and lessened protein content in peritoneal exudate in rats and mice. In the rat peritonitis induced by carrageenan, rh-bFGF 4 kU/kg decreased the MDA and NO levels, inhibited the NOS activity, augmented the SOD activity, and lowered the production of PGE(2) in exudate. However, rh-bFGF had no effect on NAG content. CONCLUSION: Recombinant human bFGF has an anti-inflammatory effect and its mechanisms are related to the inhibition of NOS activity, reduction of NO, MDA, and PGE(2) content, and increase of SOD activity.