title: Effects of formoterol-budesonide on airway remodeling in patients with moderate asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of inhaled formoterol-budesonide on airway remodeling in adult patients with moderate asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty asthmatic patients and thirty control subjects were enrolled. Asthmatic subjects used inhaled Symbicort 4.5/160 μg twice daily for one year. The effect of formoterol-budesonide on airway remodeling was assessed with comparing high-resolution computer tomography (HRCT) images of asthmatic patients and controls, as well as expression levels of cytokines and growth factors, inflammatory cell count in induced sputum, and airway hyper-responsiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The differences in age and gender between the two groups were not significant. However, differences in FVC %pred, FEV(1) %pred, and PC(20) between the two groups were significant. After treatment with formoterol-budesonide, the asthma patients' symptoms were relieved, and their lung function was improved. The WT and WA% of HRCT images in patients with asthma was increased, whereas treatment with formoterol-budesonide caused these values to decrease. The expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TGF-β(1) in induced sputum samples increased in patients with asthma and decreased dramatically after treatment with formoterol-budesonide. The WT and WA% are correlated with the expression levels of cytokines and growth factors, inflammatory cell count in induced sputum, and airway hyper-responsiveness, while these same values are correlated negatively with FEV(1)/FVC and FEV(1)%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Formoterol-budesonide might interfere in chronic inflammation and airway remodeling in asthmatic patients. HRCT can be used to effectively evaluate airway remodeling in asthmatic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong-hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yu-lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Hong-li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: En-sen
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Fu-qiang
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000187:drug effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013183:Sputum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate