Effect of Combination of Formoterol with Budesonide on the Transcriptional Activity and Release of Interleukin-8 in Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Recent clinical studies have shown that the combination of inhaled long acting beta(2) agonist with inhaled glucocorticoid results in better asthma control than higher doses of glucocorticoids alone.
OBJECTIVE
The present study was designed to investigate whether the long acting beta(2) agonist (formoterol) or glucocorticoid (budesonide) modulates the transcriptional activity and release of interleukin (IL)-8, and the combination of these two drugs influence transcriptional activity and release of IL-8. METHOD: The effect of formoterol alone and in combination with budesonide, upon tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulated human bronchial epithelial cells were investigated. Transcriptional activity was assessed by luciferase assay, and IL-8 was measured by ELISA. RESULT: Transcriptional activity and release of IL-8 induced by TNF-alpha were markedly decreased by budesonide alone, and was weakly affected by formoterol alone. The combination of budesonide with formoterol showed a significant additional suppressive effect on transcriptional activity and release of IL-8 induced by TNF-alpha. The combination effect of lower doses budesonide with formoterol was superior to higher doses of budesonide alone on the suppression of TNF-alpha-induced IL-8.
CONCLUSION
The combination of budesonide with formoterol significantly inhibits TNF-alpha-induced IL-8 secretion compared to higher doses of budesonide alone. The combination of glucocorticoids with beta(2) agonists is an effective therapeutic strategy in asthma management.

Effect of Combination of Formoterol with Budesonide on the Transcriptional Activity and Release of Interleukin-8 in Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

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