Suplatast tosilate, a new type of antiallergic agent, prevents the expression of airway hyperresponsiveness in guinea pigs.
Suplatast tosilate (suplatast) is an antiallergic agent capable of down-regulating the functions of CD4+ T cells. We now investigated the effects of suplatast on the antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and the underlying allergic inflammatory response in sensitized guinea pigs. Animals that had been immunized twice by ovalbumin inhalation on day 0 and day 7 developed an increased airway responsiveness against inhaled acetylcholine 24 h after the ovalbumin challenge on day 14. Suplatast (10 and 100 mg/kg per day) and ketotifen (10 mg/kg per day) given orally from day 0 to day 14 effectively inhibited the expression of airway hyperresponsiveness. They also inhibited the infiltration of eosinophils and macrophages into broncho-bronchiolar walls and lumen. Interestingly, suplatast, but not ketotifen, inhibited the infiltration of lymphocytes including CD4+ T cells. Collectively, these results strongly suggest that suplatast prevents the expression of airway hyperresponsiveness due to the ability to suppress the infiltration of inflammatory cells into lung tissues.
Taniguchi
H
H
Immunological Research Laboratory, Hanno Research Center, Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Saitama, Japan.
Togawa
M
M
Ohwada
K
K
Kiniwa
M
M
Matsuura
N
N
Nagai
H
H
Koda
A
A
D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001190:Arylsulfonates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000502:physiology; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000502:physiology; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001190:Arylsulfonates; D015848:Interleukin-5; D013452:Sulfonium Compounds; C073028:suplatast tosilate; D007665:Ketotifen