Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines01:24

Antiasthma Drugs: Methylxanthines

1.9K
Theophylline, a member of the methylxanthine class of bronchodilators, has long been used in asthma management. While its exact mechanism of action is not fully understood, it is believed to have multiple effects on various cellular processes.
Theophylline is thought to inhibit phosphodiesterase enzymes, increasing intracellular levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This rise in cAMP and cGMP concentrations stimulates cardiac function,...
1.9K
IV Infusion to Oral Dosing: Conversion Methods01:28

IV Infusion to Oral Dosing: Conversion Methods

121
The development of extended-release formulations has facilitated the transition from intravenous to oral medication, offering a more convenient and patient-friendly approach to drug administration. This transition, however, requires careful management to ensure that therapeutic drug levels are maintained, preserving efficacy and avoiding adverse effects. Understanding pharmacokinetic principles and dosage calculations is critical during this process.Pharmacokinetics of the...
121
Adrenergic Agonists: Mixed-Action Agents01:28

Adrenergic Agonists: Mixed-Action Agents

1.7K
Mixed-action adrenergic agonists, like ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, directly and indirectly affect adrenergic receptors. These agents stimulate adrenoceptors and indirectly release stored neurotransmitters, amplifying the adrenergic response.
Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine lack a catecholamine group, making them less susceptible to degradation by metabolic enzymes. They have increased oral bioavailability and lipophilicity, resulting in a longer duration of action. Their response is reduced by...
1.7K
Antiasthma Drugs: β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists01:25

Antiasthma Drugs: β2-Adrenoceptor Agonists

1.9K
Bronchodilators are critical in managing asthma, a chronic respiratory condition characterized by airway constriction due to inflammation and hyper-reactivity. Specifically, bronchodilators ease this constriction by relaxing the bronchial muscles, facilitating easier breathing.
One class of bronchodilators includes β2-adrenoceptor agonists. These agents target the β2-adrenoceptors located on bronchial smooth muscle cells. By stimulating these receptors, β2-agonists induce...
1.9K
Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers01:19

Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers

2.1K
Leukotriene modifiers, or cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists, are medications used to manage chronic asthma. These agents target specific inflammatory mediators produced during arachidonic acid metabolism, an essential process in generating inflammation in the body.
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
2.1K
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions01:26

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions

432
A drug interaction occurs when the concurrent use of another drug, food, or an external substance alters the pharmacological activity of a drug. This interaction can modify the action of the original drug, affecting its effectiveness and safety.Drug–food interactions are significant as they impact drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion. For example, grapefruit juice is a well-known disruptor of drug metabolism. It inhibits the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme, crucial for the metabolism of...
432

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Mitochondrial dysfunction in lung ageing and disease.

European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society·2020
Same author

COPD 2020: new directions needed.

American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology·2020
Same author

Effect of a single day of increased as-needed budesonide-formoterol use on short-term risk of severe exacerbations in patients with mild asthma: a post-hoc analysis of the SYGMA 1 study.

The Lancet. Respiratory medicine·2020
Same author

Hepcidin Is Essential for Alveolar Macrophage Function and Is Disrupted by Smoke in a Murine Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model.

Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)·2020
Same author

Sex and gender: modifiers of health, disease, and medicine.

Lancet (London, England)·2020
Same author

Virus-Induced Asthma Exacerbations: SIRT1 Targeted Approach.

Journal of clinical medicine·2020
Same journal

Correction: Jiménez-Sánchez et al. Antioxidant Enzymes Genetic Variants Associated with Urticaria/Angioedema Induced by Cross-Reactive Hypersensitivity to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs. <i>Pharmaceuticals</i> 2026, <i>19</i>, 522.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Correction: Zhao et al. Multifunctional Gel Films of Marine Polysaccharides Cross-Linked with Poly-Metal Ions for Wound Healing. <i>Pharmaceuticals</i> 2022, <i>15</i>, 750.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Intravenous Immunoglobulin Reveals a Novel Protective Mechanism: Targeting the GBP5-Driven Pyroptosis Axis in Experimental Colitis.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Icariin Attenuates Renal Injury in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats with and Without Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

AI-Assisted Identification of a Putative Allosteric Ligand Targeting the CDK4/Cyclin D1 Protein-Protein Interface.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same journal

Development and Study of Hydrophilic Ointment Compositions with a Dextrin/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Iodine Complex (D/PVA/I).

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering CARS Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution
09:59

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering CARS Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution

Published on: July 4, 2014

18.6K

Theophylline.

Peter J Barnes1

  • 1National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, UK. p.j.barnes@imperial.ac.uk.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 8, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Theophylline offers anti-inflammatory benefits for asthma and COPD by activating histone deacetylase (HDAC), potentially reversing corticosteroid resistance. It serves as an add-on therapy for severe airway diseases when other treatments are insufficient.

Keywords:
adenosine receptorbronchodilatationdrug interactionhistone deacetylaseimmunomodulationinflammationmethylxanthinephosphodiesteraseplasma concentration

More Related Videos

Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System
07:28

Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System

Published on: April 6, 2017

41.7K
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

32.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 14, 2026

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering CARS Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution
09:59

Coherent anti-Stokes Raman Scattering CARS Microscopy Visualizes Pharmaceutical Tablets During Dissolution

Published on: July 4, 2014

18.6K
Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System
07:28

Dry Powder and Nebulized Aerosol Inhalation of Pharmaceuticals Delivered to Mice Using a Nose-only Exposure System

Published on: April 6, 2017

41.7K
Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
14:39

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma

Published on: November 4, 2010

32.6K

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Theophylline, a methylxanthine, has a long history in treating airway diseases.
  • Its use as a bronchodilator decreased due to side effects at high doses, but recent research highlights its anti-inflammatory properties at lower concentrations.

Approach:

  • Investigating the molecular mechanisms of theophylline's action, including phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition for bronchodilation and histone deacetylase (HDAC) activation for anti-inflammatory effects.
  • Examining theophylline's role in reversing corticosteroid resistance, particularly in severe asthma and COPD where HDAC2 activity is reduced.

Key Points:

  • Theophylline inhibits PDE3 and PDE4, leading to bronchodilation.
  • Anti-inflammatory effects are linked to HDAC activation, suppressing inflammatory gene expression.
  • Theophylline can reverse corticosteroid resistance, a significant finding for severe respiratory conditions.
  • Systemic administration (oral or IV) requires monitoring of blood concentrations due to hepatic metabolism variations.
  • It is utilized as an add-on therapy for inadequately controlled asthma and severe COPD.

Conclusions:

  • Theophylline remains a valuable therapeutic option, particularly as an add-on treatment for severe asthma and COPD.
  • Understanding its dual mechanism of action (PDE inhibition and HDAC activation) is crucial for optimizing its use.
  • Managing potential side effects, related to plasma concentrations, is essential for patient safety.