TY - JOUR T1 - Comparative anti-oxidant effects of carbocysteine and fluticasone propionate in cigarette smoke stimulated airway epithelial cells JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 40 IS - Suppl 56 SP - P3717 AU - Elisabetta Pace AU - Maria Ferraro AU - Serena Di Vincenzo AU - Rossella Balsamo AU - Luigi Lanata AU - Andreina Bruno AU - Luana Lipari AU - Mark Gjomarkaj Y1 - 2012/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P3717.abstract N2 - Cigarette smoke extracts (CSE) induce oxidative stress, an important feature in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress contributes to the poor clinical efficacy of corticosteroids. Carbocysteine, an anti-oxidant and mucolytic agent, is effective in reducing the severity and the rate of exacerbations in COPD patients. The effects of carbocysteine on CSE induced oxidative stress in nasal and in bronchial epithelial cells as well as the comparison of these anti-oxidant effects of carbocysteine with those of fluticasone propionate are largely unknown.The present study was aimed to assess:the effects of carbocysteine (10-4 M) in cell survival and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in CSE stimulated bronchial (16-HBE) and in CSE stimulated nasal (RPMI 2650) epithelial cells and to compare these effects with those of fluticasone propionate (10-8 M).Carbocysteine or fluticasone propionate did not induce cell necrosis (propidium positive cells) or cell apoptosis (Annexin V positive/propidium negative cells) in 16 HBE and in RPMI 2650 at the tested concentrations. CSE increased intracellular ROS production in 16HBE and in RPMI 2650. Fluticasone propionate was not able to significantly reduce intracellular ROS production in both 16HBE and in RPMI 2650. Carbocysteine was able to significantly reduce intracellular ROS production and was more effective than fluticasone propionate in reducing these CSE mediated effects in both cell lines.In conclusion, the present study provides compelling evidences that carbocysteine may be considered a promising strategy in diseases associated to corticosteroid resistance. ER -