IL-6 Inhibitor Induction in Coculture Of Bronchial Epithelial Cells and Eosinophils

IL-6 Inhibitor
Eosinophil infiltration of the mucosa is a feature of asthmatic airways. Their adhesion to bronchial epithelial cells has been proposed to lead to the generation of inflammation mediators which may contribute to asthma pathology. Bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cell line) and peripheral blood eosinophils were cultured alone or in combination and the production of an inflammatory cytokine, IL-6, was measured. IL-6 was produced principally by epithelial cells and the production was enhanced more than 10-fold in the presence of eosinophils. Significant augmentation of epithelial IL-6 production persisted even when eosinophils were fixed with paraformaldehyde. The eosinophil-induced IL-6 production was extensively inhibited by inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase or nuclear factor ??B (NF??B). (more…)

Roflumilast Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor, Attenuates Allergen-Induced Asthmatic Reactions

Roflumilast Phosphodiesterase
Roflumilast is an oral, once-daily inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) that prevents the breakdown of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, leading to inhibition of pro-inflammatory signalling. This study investigated the effects of repeated doses of 250 or 500 µg of roflumilast on airway asthma responses to allergen. (more…)

Asthmatic Bronchial Epithelial Cells Have A Deficient Innate Immune Response To Infection With Rhinovirus

Epithelial Cells
Exacerbations of asthma are frequently associated with rhinoviral infection. Rhinoviruses infect respiratory epithelial cells, where they replicate. The presence of viral nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and the production of new virions provoke an innate immune system response, leading to destruction of infected cells through the rapid induction of apoptosis. The lower airways of asthmatic individuals are more susceptible than those of healthy individuals to infection with rhinoviruses, although the basis of this difference has not been understood previously. Using epithelial cells cultured from bronchial brush biopsies of healthy and asthmatic volunteers, rhinovirus 16 (RV16) was found to replicate more rapidly in asthmatic epithelial cells in vitro. (more…)

Antigen-Specific Cd4 T Cells Drive Airways Smooth Muscle Remodeling In Experimental Asthma

Cd4 T Cells
Airway hyper-responsiveness in asthma may involve smooth muscle growth, a manifestation of airway remodelling. The involvement of inflammatory cells in the induction of airway smooth muscle growth was studied in vivo and ex vivo in a brown Norway rat model of asthma. Transfer of CD4 + T lymphocytes from ovalbuminsensitized animals induced an increase in airway smooth muscle mass in naive animals upon repeated ovalbumin challenge. Ex vivo, coculture of antigen-stimulated CD4 + T cells and airway smooth muscle cells led to myocyte proliferation and prolonged T-cell survival. (more…)

The Benefit of Sports and Exercise for Childhood Asthma

exercise asthma

It is very common in asthmatic children where overprotective parents prevent a normal level of exercise to their kids. However, a controlled sport appropriate to the course of their disease is very healthy.

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable bronchial obstruction and reversible, either spontaneously or with treatment, (more…)

Airway Vascularity in Asthma

The airway circulation has many potential roles in asthma. The vasculature has a major influence on upper airway patency in nasal infection and atopic responses. Given its responsiveness to provocative stimuli in asthma and vasoconstrictive and antiproliferative response to corticosteroids, the bronchial circulation is likely to be a future target for novel asthma therapies. (more…)