title: Effect of fluticasone propionate on interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma production in patients affected by allergic bronchial asthma.
abstract: Fluticasone propionate is a very effective topical treatment for asthma. Interleukin-12, which is produced by monocyte-macrophage and B lymphocytic cell lines, plays an important role in the induction of Th1 cells; whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), mainly produced by Th1 cells, exhibits a crucial effect on macrophage and natural killer cell activation. Since previous studies have demonstrated a reduced production of IL-12 and IFN-gamma in patients with allergic asthma, we examined whether fluticasone propionate therapy could influence the release of these cytokines in asthma. We selected two groups of subjects (15 per group): nonatopic healthy donors (group A) and asthmatic patients (group B). Cytokine release was assessed in sera as well as in supernatants of whole blood cultures after IFN-gamma priming and lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Venous blood and spirometric tests from patients in group B were obtained before and after treatment. Fluticasone propionate therapy significantly increased interleukin-12 levels in both supernatants of blood cultures (1,152.12 +/- 225.57 vs. 540.87 +/- 130.07 pg/ml; p < 0.05) or in sera (72.24 +/- 15.76 vs. 10.83 +/- 2.70 pg/ml; p < 0.05). Patients treated with fluticasone propionate also displayed increased levels of IFN-gamma in either blood culture supernatants (59.12 +/- 16.88 vs. 18.87 +/- 7.53 IU/ml; p < 0.05) or in sera (5.60 +/- 2.87 vs. < 1 IU/ml; p < 0.05). In addition, we observed a significant increase in FEV1 values in asthmatic patients after fluticasone propionate therapy (51.86 +/- 5.31 vs. 71.46 +/- 10.37% predicted). We propose that fluticasone propionate may exert at least in part of its antiinflammatory activity through the modulation of the cytokine output.
authors.affiliation: School of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Policlinic G. Martino, University of Messina, Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Purello-D'Ambrosio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gangemi
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Merendino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guarneri
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ricciardi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000068298:Fluticasone