[Effect of dexamethasone on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression on cultured bronchial epithelial cells...

Bronchial asthma is characterized as a chronic inflammation of the airway that causes an infiltration of lymphocytes and eosinophils. Cell to cell interaction or cell to tissue interaction is essential for infiltration of eosinophils to underlying tissues. These phenomena are closely related to the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Inhalation of steroids, such as beclomethasone dipropionate, is commonly used to cure airway inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effect of cytokines on ICAM-1 expression on human bronchial epithelial cell lines, NCI-H292. Moreover, the effect of dexamethasone on ICAM-1 expression stimulated by IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma was observed. Treatment with IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma dose-dependently increased ICAM-1 expression on NCI-H292 cells. Inhibitory effects were exerted by dexamethasone on ICAM-1 expression in cells stimulated by IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma in a dose-dependent manner, but not in cells stimulated by TNF-alpha. These results suggest that the inhibition of ICAM-1 expression could be related to the pharmacological action of steroid drugs.