Melatonin attenuates phosgene-induced acute lung injury via the upregulation Wnt/β-catenin pathway

The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic effect of melatonin in phosgene induced acute lung injury (ALI) and to explore the related mechanisms. A rat model of phosgene induced ALI was established and the severity of the ALI was evaluated by wet/dry (W:D) ratio of lung weight, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cell counts and inflammatory cytokines. The rats were administrated with elatonin (MT), ulinastatin (UTI), p38 inhibitor and NF-κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) alone or in combination. We found that MT in combination with UTI significantly improved the severity of ALI and the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling was involved in beneficial effect of MT. MT may be used as a therapeutic adjuvant for phosgene induced ALI.