Influence of theophylline on activated lymphocytes and eosinophils in peripheral blood and sputum.
The influence of a once-a-day sustained-release theophylline (Uniphyl) on lymphocytes and eosinophils in the peripheral blood and sputum of patients with bronchial asthma was investigated. The peripheral blood lymphocytes included CD4, CD8, CD25 and HLA-DR. The sputum lymphocytes and eosinophils included CD4, CD8, CD25 and HLA-DR, and EG2, respectively. The results revealed that theophylline administration did not affect the numbers of activated CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. No significant change in the lymphocyte count was observed in sputum, but the eosinophil count in the sputum decreased significantly after theophylline administration. EG2-positive eosinophils also decreased in number. CD4+HLA-DR+ and CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes were significantly decreased, whereas CD8+ T lymphocytes in the sputum were not significantly reduced in number. Respiratory function test showed that forced expiratory volume in 1 s was significantly increased after theophylline administration. The results suggest that a new once-a-day sustained-release theophylline formulation would be useful in the treatment of chronic respiratory tract inflammation.
Tohda
Y
Y
Fourth Department of Internal Medicine, Kinki University, School of Medicine, Ohnohigashi, Osaka-sayama, Osaka, Japan. access-planning@eva.hi-ho.ne.jp
Kubo
H
H
Iwanaga
T
T
Fukuoka
M
M
Nakajima
S
S
D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D013806:Theophylline