Abstract
Background: The inflammatory response in COPD is relatively insensitive to glucocorticoids. Recent evidence suggests that azithromycin and theophylline can improve anti-inflammatory properties of corticosteroids. We hypothesized that these drugs when combined with glucocorticoids have different effects on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate inhibitory effects of azithromycin and budesonide versus theophylline and budesonide on the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by PBMCs.
Methods: PBMCs were isolated from patients with COPD (n=6). Cells were then treated in the presence or absence of budesonide (10-8 M), azithromycin (40 mg/L) and theophylline (10-6 M) for 1 h before stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (10 µg/mL) for 24 h. Concentrations of interleukin 4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-8, IL-13, IL-17, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) in cell-free supernatants were determined by ELISA.
Results: Azithromycin when combined with budesonide inhibited synthesis of IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-13 and MIF by stimulated PBMCs. The combination of theophylline and budesonide suppressed PHA-induced secretion of IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, IL-13. Both drug combinations did not affect IL-17 release from stimulated PBMCs. There were no statistically significant differences between the inhibitory effects of azithromycin and theophylline when these drugs were combined with budesonide.
Conclusion: Two combinations of drugs (theophylline/budesonide and azithromycin/budesonide) showed similar anti-inflammatory effects on PBMCs from patients with COPD.
Footnotes
Cite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2020; 56: Suppl. 64, 2704.
This abstract was presented at the 2020 ERS International Congress, in session “Respiratory viruses in the "pre COVID-19" era”.
This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).
- Copyright ©the authors 2020