Original Paper

Procaterol Potentiates the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Budesonide on Eosinophil Adhesion to Lung Fibroblasts
Norihiro Yoshida^a, Masahiro Muraguchi^a, Masayuki Kamata^a, Katsumi Ikezono^a, Toyoki Mori<sup>b

a</sup>Free Radical Project, Tokushima Research Institute, and
^bReverse Translational Research Office, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Tokushima, Japan

Address of Corresponding Author

Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2009;150:352-358 (DOI: 10.1159/000226236)

  Key Words

• Procaterol
• Budesonide
• ₂-Agonist
• Normal human lung fibroblasts
• Adhesion molecule
• Eosinophils

  Abstract

Background: The interaction between leukocytes and various parenchymal cells is the first step of inflammation. Therefore, the adhesion of eosinophils to lung fibroblasts is thought to be a crucial step in the inflammatory process of asthma. Procaterol, a ₂-selective full agonist, is currently prescribed for patients with asthma. In addition to its potent bronchodilatory action, the agonist has been reported to have anti-inflammatory actions. In this study, to examine whether procaterol can potentiate the anti-inflammatory action of glucocorticoids, the effect of procaterol on eosinophil adhesion to normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLF) was assessed in the presence and absence of budesonide, one of the most potent glucocorticoids. Methods: Following pretreatment of NHLF with tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) in the presence of various concentrations of procaterol and/or budesonide, the eotaxin-stimulated eosinophil adhesion was determined using the peroxidase activity of eosinophils. To investigate the mechanism of the inhibitory action of procaterol, TNF--induced expression of adhesion molecules, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, in NHLF was also evaluated. Results: Pretreatment with procaterol inhibited the adhesion of eosinophils to NHLF in a concentration-dependent manner, and shifted the concentration-response curve of budesonide to the left. Both procaterol and budesonide resulted in concentration-dependent inhibition of expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in NHLF, and an additive inhibitory effect was found when the agents were combined. Conclusions: Given the results of this study which indicated that procaterol exerted an additive action on the anti-inflammatory effect of budesonide, procaterol and glucocorticoids may provide better control for asthma when used together than when used separately.

Copyright © 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Correspondence to: Dr. Norihiro Yoshida
Free Radical Project, Tokushima Research Institute
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.
463-10, Kagasuno Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima 771-0192 (Japan)
Tel. +81 88 665 2126, Fax +81 88 665 6976, E-Mail n_yoshida@research.otsuka.co.jp

  Article Information

Received: August 6, 2008
Accepted after revision: March 12, 2009
Published online: July 1, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 4, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 35
Additional supplementary material is available online - Number of Parts : 1