EXPRESS: Exploring Testosterone's Impact on Pulmonary Health in a Rat Model of COPD: Investigating MMP-9 and FGF-23.

BackgroundWe explored the potential impact of testosterone treatment in a male rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our study focused on evaluating the potential decrease in the expression and activation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) induced by COPD.MethodsWistar rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups: control, COPD, or testosterone treatment. The COPD model was induced through the administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and exposure to cigarette smoke (CS). The expression levels of MMP9 and FGF-23 were measured using Western blot and RT-PCR techniques, while MMP9 activity was evaluated via gelatin zymography.ResultsTestosterone treatment led to a significant improvement in pulmonary function indeces compared with the control group. Furthermore, testosterone treatment reduced lung inflammation improved the alveolar structure, and reduced the number of inflammatory cells. It also mitigated oxidative stress, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Testosterone lowered the expression of MMP-9 and FGF-23, which was elevated in rats with COPD. It also decreased the activity of MMP-9 in lung tissues.ConclusionsOverall, testosterone showed promise in ameliorating COPD-related pulmonary impairment and inflammation via modulation of oxidative stress, MMP-9, and FGF-23.