Inhibitory action of levocetirizine on the production of eosinophil chemoattractants RANTES and eotaxin in vitro and in vivo.

Eosinophils are well known to play essential roles in the development and maintenance of allergic diseases. However, the influence of histamine H1 receptor antagonists on eosinophil functions, especially chemokine production, are not well-defined. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the influence of histamine H1 receptor antagonist on chemokine production by eosinophils through the use of levocetirizine in vitro and in vivo.

Enhancement of thioredoxin production from nasal epithelial cells by the macrolide antibiotic, clarithromycin in vitro.

Low-dose and long-term administration of 14-membered macrolide antibiotics is well-known to be effective in the treatment of chronic airway diseases. Although there is much evidence that the anti-inflammatory action, but not the anti-microbial action of macrolides, is responsible for the clinical efficacy of these agents on chronic airway inflammatory diseases, the precise therapeutic mechanisms are not well-understood. Since thioredoxin (TRX) has now attracted attention as an endogenous peptide with immunomodulatory effects, the present study was undertaken to examine whether macrolide antibiotics could favorably modulate the clinical status of such diseases via the production of TRX from nasal epithelial cells in vitro.

Enhancement of clara cell 10-kD protein (CC10) production from nasal epithelial cells by fexofenadine hydrochloride.

Background: Clara cell 10-kD protein (CC10) is well known to be an immuno-suppressive protein secreted from airway epithelial cells after inflammatory stimulation and is involved in the development of allergic disorders. Although histamine H1 receptor antagonists are used for the treatment of allergic disorders, the influence of the agents on CC10 production is not well understood. In the present study, we examined the influence of a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, fexofenadine hydrochloride (FEX) on CC10 production in vitro and in vivo.

Suppression of IL-8 production from airway cells by tiotropium bromide in vitro.

Background: COPD is characterized by persistent and progressive airway inflammation. Although neutrophilic airway inflammation is generally accepted to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of COPD, the influence of the agents used for the treatment of COPD on neutrophil functions such as chemotaxis is not fully understood.

Purpose: The present study aimed to examine the influence of tiotropium bromide on the production of interleukin (IL)-8 from human airway epithelial cells and lung fibroblasts (LFs) after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in vitro.