RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 A combination of erythromycin and dexamethasone reduces inflammatory effects of exposure to cigarette smoke extract through modulation of Akt and histone deacetylase 2 JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP P3654 VO 44 IS Suppl 58 A1 Xuejiao Sun A1 Xiaoning Zhong A1 Zhiyi He A1 Zhanhua Li A1 Yang Zhang A1 Guang Zhou A1 Jiangquan Zhang YR 2014 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P3654.abstract AB While erythromycin (EM) has been shown to play an anti-inflammatory role in COPD, it is unclear whether a combination of EM and corticosteroid would further reduce inflammatory effects. Here, we determined the molecular mechanisms by which combination therapy may repress inflammatory gene expression in monocytes. We demonstrated that combination treatment inhibited release of IL-8 in PBMCs of COPD patients and U937 exposed to CSE.The CSE-induce reduction in HDAC2 protein could be reversed by combination treatment.CSE increased PAkt expression in a concentration-dependent manner. PAkt expression could be reversed by EM in a dose-dependent manner. Our results verify that combination treatment of U937 cells prior to CSE exposure increases protein levels of HDAC2 and reduces PAkt levels. Combination therapy of EM and corticosteroid may be an effective therapy in the treatment of COPD.