TY - JOUR T1 - Tiotropium reduces established pulmonary inflammation in a 12 weeks cigarette smoke mouse model of COPD JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - 3448 AU - Lutz Wollin AU - Florian Gantner AU - Michael Pieper Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/3448.abstract N2 - Rationale: Tiotropium bromide (Spiriva®) is the only marketed long acting anticholinergic for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We recently demonstrated that tiotropium reduces established cigarette smoke (CS)-induced lung inflammation in a short term mouse model.Aim: To investigate the therapeutic anti-inflammatory activity of tiotropium on CS-induced lung inflammation in a chronic 12 weeks mouse model.Methods: All mice except controls were exposed to CS for 3 weeks (W) to elicit pronounced lung inflammation. Thereafter, 4 groups of mice were either further exposed to CS or room air (RA) with or without tiotropium treatment up to W12. Tiotropium was administered by inhalation (0.1 mg/mL for 5 min) 1 h prior to CS or RA exposure. Cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were determined at W3, W8, and W12.Results: Lung inflammation induced by 3 W of CS exposure was resolved 5 W after termination of smoke exposure regardless of Tiotropium treatment. Continued CS exposure increases lung inflammation to a maximum at W8. Tiotropium treatment of existing inflammation for 5 W completely inhibited the increase in neutrophil number and reduced monocytic inflammation. After 9 W of Tiotropium treatment the number of monocytes was reduced to baseline levels of healthy animals. Neutrophil number was significantly reduced by 58% after 9 W of Tiotropium treatment compared to sham treated CS exposed mice.Conclusion: The therapeutic anti-inflammatory properties of tiotropium bromide may contribute to the beneficial influence of tiotropium in chronic inflammatory airway diseases like COPD. ER -