The effects of regular inhaled formoterol and budesonide on preformed Th-2 cytokines in mild asthmatics.
In a recent placebo-controlled study in mild atopic asthmatics, we observed a significant decrease in eosinophils in the bronchial submucosa, after 2 months oftreatment with inhaled formoterol and budesonide. Biopsy material from each treatment group; formoterol (24 microg bid), budesonide (400 microg b. i. d.) and placebo has been further assessed to investigatethe role of Th-2 cytokines by immunohistochemistry using Mabs to eosinophils as an index of inflammation, IL-4 and IL-5. Treatment with formoterol significantly reduced the number of eosinophils (EG2+) in the submucosa and epithelium, but this was not paralleled by changes in cytokine immunoreactivity In contrast, treatment with budesonide significantly reduced both the number of eosinophils (EG2+) and immunoreactivity for IL-4 and IL-5 in the submucosa. Thus, while budesonide has effects on cytokines involved in eosinophil recruitmentthis explanation does not apply tothe eosinopaenia observed with the long-acting beta2 adrenoreceptor agonist formoterol.
Wallin
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A
Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden. annika.wallin@lung.umu.se
Sandström
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T
Cioppa
G D
GD
Holgate
S
S
Wilson
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S
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000276:immunology; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004983:Ethanolamines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015848:Interleukin-5; D015847:Interleukin-4; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate