Abstract
Viral infections such as a common cold in the airway can potentially exacerbate signs and symptom of asthma, including mucus overproduction, airway hyperresponsiveness, and airway obstruction. These signs and symptoms are associated with progression of airway remodeling. MUC5AC is related intimately related to mucus overproduction in the airway and is localized in airway epithelial goblet cells. Fluticasone propionate and salmeterol are used to treat asthma. These drugs prevent exacerbation of asthmatic symptoms due to common colds. However, the effects of these drugs on viral-infected epithelial cells in the airway are unclear.
We therefore investigated the effects of fluticasone propionate or salmeterol on rhinovirus 14 (RV14)-induced MUC5AC gene expression in a human airway epithelial cell line (NCI-H292). Fluticasone propionate significantly decreased MUC5AC gene expression in rhinovirus-infected NCI-H292 cells. Our results suggest that fluticasone propionate prevents exacerbation of asthma due to rhinovirus infection by decreasing MUC5AC expression in the airway, potentially slowing the progression of airway remodeling.
- © 2011 ERS
