[The effect of azelastine on bronchial mucosa in bronchial asthma--suppression of cytokine mRNA].
Azelastine is an oral antiallergic drug. Although oral antiallergic drugs are classified as controllers because of the possession of anti-inflammatory effect, the mechanism of action has remained obscure. Thus the author investigated the effects of azelastine on inflammatory cells infiltrating into the bronchial mucosa and on the expression of cytokines in patients with atopic asthma. Biopsy specimens of the bronchial mucosa were bronchoscopically obtained before and after the administration of azelastine for 3 months. Inflammatory cells in the bronchial mucosa, including eosinophils, mast cells, macrophages, and T lymphocytes, were stained immunocytochemistry; expression of cytokine mRNA [Interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5] was examined by the in situ hybridization method. The results obtained revealed that the number of eosinophils (p < 0.01), T lymphocytes (p < 0.01), and cells expressing mRNA of IL-4 (p < 0.05) or IL-5 (p < 0.01) significantly decreased after the administration of azelastine. These results suggest that azelastine inhibits the action on local infiltration of inflammatory cells and following proinflammatory cytokine production as one mechanism of bronchial asthma.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Toho University School of Medicine.
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Shimojo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D010793:Phthalazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D016207:Cytokines; D015848:Interleukin-5; D010793:Phthalazines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015847:Interleukin-4; C020976:azelastine