Theophylline suppresses the release of interleukin-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.
To elucidate the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of theophylline, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from patients with bronchial asthma who had a RAST score for Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) > = 3 were stimulated with Df antigen, and the interleukin-4 (IL-4) production by the stimulated PBMCs was determined in the presence and absence of theophylline. The stimulated IL-4 production in the PBMCs was significantly suppressed by simultaneous treatment with theophylline (8 microg/ml). Furthermore, the intracellular 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level following stimulation with Df was significantly higher in PBMCs simultaneously treated with theophylline (8 microg/ml) than in nontreated controls. These results suggest that theophylline suppresses the IL-4 production in inflammatory cells by increasing the intracellular cAMP level; this effect may thus provide an additional basis for the benefit of theophylline in antiasthmatic therapy.
Tohda
Y
Y
Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University School of Medicine, Osakasayama, Osaka, Japan.
Nakahara
H
H
Kubo
H
H
Muraki
M
M
Fukuoka
M
M
Nakajima
S
S
D000328:Adult; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D006023:Glycoproteins; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D013806:Theophylline; D000242:Cyclic AMP