title: Theophylline inhibits integrin-dependent eosinophil superoxide production.
abstract: Theophylline has been proposed as a drug that is able to reduce eosinophil activation in asthma. We tested the hypothesis that it can interfere with the integrin-mediated stimulation of eosinophil function. Eosinophils from healthy donors were triggered by monoclonal antibodies to beta1- and beta2-integrins in the presence of different concentrations of theophylline: 4.3 microg/mL (2.4 X 10(-5) M) 13 microg/mL (7.2 X 10(-5) M) 26 microg/mL (1.4 X 10(-4) M), and 43 microg/mL (2.4 X 10(-4) M), respectively. The level of activation was evaluated by assaying O2- generation. A statistically significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of O2- generation was observed with the different concentrations of theophylline when eosinophils were triggered via very late antigen 4 (VLA-4), lymphocyte function antigen 1 and the common beta2-chain. No effect of theophylline on O2- generation was observed in phorbol-myristate-acetate-stimulated eosinophils. These results suggest that theophylline can interfere with the eosinophil activation triggered by ligation of beta1- and beta2-integrins. This effect of theophylline possibly may play a relevant role in the inhibition of eosinophil infiltration and activation at the sites of allergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgio L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Piacentini
authors.forename: Diego G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Peroni
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bodini
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baraldi
authors.forename: Attilio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Boner
authors.forename: Atanasio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzimichail
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berton
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016023:Integrins; D013481:Superoxides; D013806:Theophylline