Abstract: AIM: To study the protective effect of interleukin- 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) on guinea pig models with asthma. METHODS: Ovalbumin sensitized guinea pigs as asthma models were treated with IL-1ra for 8 days.At the end of the treatment, the concentration of endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) in the blood and in the lung tissue were determined, and the count of eosinophil (EOS) in the blood and the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BLAF) was measured as well. RESULTS: IL-1ra lowered ET content in the blood and lung tissue, and the count of EOS in the blood and BLAF as well.But it increased the activity of NO, and the high dose group showed a better effect. CONCLUSION: The inhalation of nebulized IL-1ra has an effect against asthma.

Key words: pharmacology, IL-1, asthma, ET, NO, EOS