title: Effect of corticosteroid treatment on interleukin-1 and tumour necrosis factor secretion by monocytes from subjects with asthma.
abstract: Peripheral blood monocytes (PBM) may be activated in asthmatic patients, a condition usually reverted by corticosteroid (CS) treatment. In the present research we have evaluated the spontaneous or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) by PBM obtained from 14 asthmatic subjects during an asthmatic attack and after 1 week of CS treatment. The control group included 20 healthy volunteers. PBM obtained during severe asthma showed a pattern of IL-1 and TNF secretion similar to that of normal subjects. After CS treatment, IL-1 levels did not change significantly in comparison to baseline values, while LPS-induced TNF production was apparently related to the degree of airway obstruction after CS treatment. In fact, TNF production by PBM from CS-responsive subjects was significantly decreased in comparison to the levels determined before CS treatment, while PBM from CS-resistant subjects produced the same cytokine levels regardless of CS treatment. The present study suggests that the determination of LPS-induced TNF secretion by PBM could be used to confirm the effectiveness of CS treatment in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vecchiarelli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siracusa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cenci
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puliti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbritti
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008875:Middle Aged; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011241:Prednisone