title: The influence of aminophylline on human neutrophils--possible protection of lung from proteolytic injury.
abstract: Protease-antiprotease imbalance in the lung is considered to be a likely pathogenetic mechanism in the development of lung injury--particularly emphysema. Aminophylline is often used in bronchitis, bronchial asthma and emphysema. To assess, whether aminophylline indeed affects this mechanism we evaluated in vitro its influence at therapeutical concentrations (12 and 20 micrograms/ml) on phagocytosis, release of total protein and lysosomal enzymes after phagocytosis, spontaneous migration and chemotaxis of human neutrophils to zymosan-activated serum. There were no significant differences in phagocytosis, release of leukoprotease and acid phosphatase between neutrophils with and without aminophylline at both concentrations. However, the release of total protein was different (p less than 0.02, 12 micrograms/ml) and lower (p less than 0.02, 20 micrograms/ml) than the control. The mean decrease in protein release was 13.5 +/- 6% of the control and aminophylline inhibited the release of the protein with molecular weight below 35.000 daltons. Significant migration inhibition was found in 22% cases (12 micrograms/ml, n = 9) and in 53% (20 micrograms cm-3, n = 13). Neutrophil chemotaxis was different (p less than 0.02, 12 micrograms/ml) and lower (p less than 0.05, 20 micrograms/ml) than the control. The obtained results suggest that high doses, of aminophylline may diminish inflammatory recruitment of neutrophils--a rich source of elastase to the lung, and thus diminish proteolytic pulmonary injury.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical Academy, Lódź.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rozniecki
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ruta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bednarowicz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Izdebski
mesh_terms: D000135:Acid Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002464:Cell Migration Inhibition; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000628:Aminophylline; D000135:Acid Phosphatase; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases