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Theophylline therapy inhibits neutrophil and mononuclear cell chemotaxis from chronic asthmatic children
A Condino-Neto1, M M Vilela, E C Cambiucci
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, SP, Brazil.
Insights
Theophylline therapy effectively reduced neutrophil and mononuclear cell migration in children with chronic asthma. This inhibition of cell movement may help manage the inflammatory responses characteristic of asthma.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pharmacology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Neutrophil and mononuclear cell activation are key components of late-phase asthmatic reactions.
- Theophylline is a common medication for managing chronic asthma symptoms.
- Understanding theophylline's impact on immune cell function is crucial for asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of theophylline on neutrophil and mononuclear cell chemotaxis in children with chronic asthma.
- To compare immune cell migration during and after theophylline treatment.
Main Methods:
- Thirty children with chronic asthma received oral theophylline for 10 days.
- Chemotactic assays, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels, and theophylline plasma concentrations were measured during and after therapy.
- Serum complement and IgE levels were also assessed.
Main Results:
- Theophylline therapy significantly inhibited both spontaneous and stimulated neutrophil and mononuclear cell chemotaxis.
- Therapeutic plasma concentrations of theophylline were achieved in most patients.
- Discontinuation of theophylline led to a significant decrease in plasma cAMP levels.
Conclusions:
- Theophylline demonstrates an inhibitory effect on neutrophil and mononuclear cell migration in asthmatic children.
- This immunomodulatory action of theophylline may contribute to its therapeutic benefits in controlling asthma-related inflammation.
Abstract:
1. Theophylline is commonly used to relieve symptoms of chronic asthma. Since neutrophil and mononuclear cell activation are associated with late phase asthmatic reactions, effects of theophylline on these cells may be of importance. 2. In the present investigation we compared neutrophil and mononuclear cell chemotaxis from chronic asthmatic children during and after theophylline therapy. 3. Thirty patients were recruited for the study. Each patient received theophylline orally for 10 days. The theophylline dose was 20 mg kg-1 day-1 given in four divided doses. On the tenth day, blood was collected into heparinized (100 u ml-1) and siliconized tubes 2 h after the last theophylline dose for chemotactic assays, cAMP and theophylline plasma determinations. When clinical conditions allowed, theophylline was discontinued for 7 days and the chemotactic assays, cAMP and theophylline plasma concentrations repeated. Serum complement and IgE levels were also determined. 4. Theophylline therapy clearly inhibited both spontaneous and stimulated neutrophil and mononuclear cell chemotaxis. Twenty-seven patients had therapeutic plasma concentrations of theophylline (5-20 micrograms ml-1). Discontinuation of theophylline therapy caused a significant decrease in plasma cAMP levels (44 and 31 pmol ml-1 respectively during and after treatment, n = 30, P less than 0.001). 5. The inhibition of neutrophil and mononuclear cell migration by theophylline therapy in chronic asthmatic children may be beneficial for the control of the inflammatory response observed in these patients.