Local and systemic immunological parameters associated with remission of asthma symptoms in children.

The immunological and clinical parameters that are associated with asthma remission are poorly understood. The cytokine and local mediator changes associated with the resolution of asthma symptoms were examined in three groups of subjects 12-18 years of age (n = 15 in each group): (a) continuing asthma group (CA) who had persistent symptoms since early childhood, (b) an age, sex and atopic status-matched group who had persistent symptoms in early childhood but in whom these had resolved (RA), and (c) a non-atopic, non-asthmatic control group. Clinical parameters, sputum cell counts, peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cytokine production and activation marker expression were determined.

Impact of intranasal budesonide on immune inflammatory responses and epithelial remodeling in chronic upper airway inflammation.

Background: Histologic and immunohistologic features of nasal polyps (NP) are similar to those observed in asthma, thus suggesting a similar immunopathology.

Objective: The primary objective of this study was to further understand the anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects of locally delivered corticosteroids. To this end, the effect of intranasal budesonide on the expression of specific cytokines, lymphocyte subsets, and epithelial remodeling in this model of airway tissue inflammation were studied.

Eosinophil activation in the tissue: synthetic steroid, budesonide, effectively inhibits the survival of eosinophils isolated from peripheral blood but not nasal polyp tissues.

We investigated the effect of a potent synthetic steroid, budesonide (BUD), on the survival of nasal polyp (NP) derived eosinophils (EOS). BUD, at the highest dose used, 10(-6) M, decreased this survival but only by approximately one third. We speculated that the relatively small inhibitory effect of budesonide on the survival of NP-EOS could be the result of these EOS being exposed to substantial amounts of GM-CSF, IL-5 or IL-3.

Efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate nasal drops 400 microgram once daily compared with placebo for the treatment of bilateral polyposis in adults.

Background: Chronic eosinophilic rhinosinusitis underlies a range of respiratory disorders including nasal polyposis. Surgical and medical methods are used to control polyps, with topical steroids commonly being used for their anti-inflammatory properties. Fluticasone propionate nasal drops (FPND) is a formulation developed specifically for an effective and well tolerated corticosteroid treatment of nasal polyposis.

TNF-alpha dysregulation in asthma: relationship to ongoing corticosteroidtherapy.

Background: Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a major proinflammatory cytokine that is thought to be important in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, alterations in systemic regulation of this cytokine in asthma have not been examined in the context of corticosteroid therapy.

Objectives: To examine the ability of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from three different groups of patients with asthma requiring varying amounts of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for clinical control, and to examine cells from age- and sex-matched nonasthmatic patients to produce TNF-alpha.