PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R Djukanovic
AU  - JP Finnerty
AU  - C Lee
AU  - S Wilson
AU  - J Madden
AU  - ST Holgate
TI  - The effects of theophylline on mucosal inflammation in asthmatic airways: biopsy results
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.95.08050831
DP  - 1995 May 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 831--833
VI  - 8
IP  - 5
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/8/5/831.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/8/5/831.full
SO  - Eur Respir J1995 May 01; 8
AB  - Theophylline, a nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, has only recently been reconsidered as a potential anti-inflammatory drug. Its ability to inhibit late asthmatic responses has pointed to possible inhibition of mechanisms regulating the influx and activity of inflammatory cells into the airways. Increasing evidence points to an anti-inflammatory action of theophylline at doses lower than those necessary for a bronchodilator effect. Withdrawal of theophylline from regular treatment results in an increase both in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells in the bronchial mucosa and a concomitant decrease in the blood, suggesting that theophylline prevents T-cell trafficking from blood into the airways. Furthermore, pretreatment with theophylline significantly attenuates the influx of eosinophils into the airways associated with an allergen-induced late asthmatic response. In keeping with these observations, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving mild to moderately severe atopic asthmatics, treatment with theophylline resulted in a significant reduction in the numbers of epithelial CD8+ T-cells. In addition, the numbers of cells containing cytokines, interleukin 4 and 5 (IL-4 and IL-5), decreased in the theophylline-treated group and increased in the placebo-treated group, with the difference between the changes being significant. It would, therefore, appear that theophylline may contribute to asthma control due to its ability to reduce the suppressor/cytotoxic T-cells and cytokines which are relevant to allergic mucosal responses.