title: Interferon-alpha inhibits airway eosinophilia and hyperresponsiveness in an animal asthma model [corrected].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma is characterized by a chronic inflammatory process involving high numbers of inflammatory cells and mediators which have multiple inflammatory effects on the airway. Interferon (IFN)-alpha, which is used widely for treating chronic hepatitis C, is reported to have an effect on patients with Churg-Strauss syndrome. Therefore, it may also be suitable for patients with severe asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We studied the effect of IFN-alpha on airway eosinophilia in a guinea pig model of asthma and the expression of adhesion molecules on human eosinophils and vascular endothelial cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  After antigen challenge, airway hyperresponsiveness and airway eosinophilia were measured in a guinea pig asthma model with or without airway IFN-alpha administration. Expression of adhesion molecules on eosinophils and cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was also evaluated with or without IFN-alpha.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IFN-alpha inhibited eosinophil recruitment into the tracheal wall and improved airway hyperresponsiveness in sensitized guinea pigs. IFN-alpha also significantly suppressed IL-1 beta-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression on HUVECs. However, IFN-alpha did not suppress platelet-activating factor-induced macrophage antigen-1 expression on human eosinophils. IFN-alpha significantly inhibited eosinophil adhesion to IL-1 beta-induced HUVECs and migration through IL-1 beta induced HUVECs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that the modulation of ICAM-1 in lung with pre-existing inflammation following treatment with IFN-alpha may be a novel and selective treatment for control of chronic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness associated with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kita-kobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan.
authors.forename: Yasuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kikkawa
authors.forename: Kumiya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugiyama
authors.forename: Kazuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Obara
authors.forename: Hirokuni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hirata
authors.forename: Yasutsugu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toda
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
keywords: Adhesion molecule; Asthma; Eosinophil; Intercellular adhesion molecule-1; Interferon-alpha; Macrophage antigen-1