title: The Increased Expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 Molecules by Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells, Induced by Activated Mononuclear Cells, is Downregulated by Nedocromil Sodium.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that mononuclear cell products could increase the expression of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules in bronchial epithelial cells (BECs), subconfluent cultures of human BECs, obtained from surgically resected bronchi, were incubated with PHA-activated blood mononuclear cell conditioned media (BCM-CM) or recombinant IFN-gamma. The presence of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 molecules on BECs was then evaluated by specific antibody staining and flow-cytometry analysis. The addition to BEC cultures of different concentrations of PHA-stimulated BMC-CM, or of IFN-gamma induced a dosedependent increase of HIA-DR and ICAM-1 expression, while no effect was observed with unstimulated BMC-CM. The ability of nedocromil sodium and, as control, of dexamethasone, to prevent the upregulation of HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression on BECs was then tested. Increasing concentrations (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) of nedocromil significandy inhibited HLA-DR and ICAM-1 expression by BECs in a dose-dependent fashion. A similarly dose-dependent inhibitory effect was also observed with dexamethasone, which, however, was less active than nedocromil on HL-ADR expression and more active on ICAM-1 expression. Finally, nedocromil and dexamethasone showed a significant synergistic effect on the expression of both cell surface molecules at the lowest concentrations tested.
authors.affiliation: Divisione di Pneumologia Istituto G. Gaslini Largo G. Gaslini 5 Genova 16148 Italy.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sacco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lantero
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scarso
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Frangova
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ottolini
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rossi