Influence of theophylline on activated lymphocytes and eosinophils in peripheral blood and sputum.

Abstract

The influence of a once-a-day sustained-release theophylline (Uniphyl) on lymphocytes and eosinophils in the peripheral blood and sputum of patients with bronchial asthma was investigated. The peripheral blood lymphocytes included CD4, CD8, CD25 and HLA-DR. The sputum lymphocytes and eosinophils included CD4, CD8, CD25 and HLA-DR, and EG2, respectively. The results revealed that theophylline administration did not affect the numbers of activated CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in peripheral blood. No significant change in the lymphocyte count was observed in sputum, but the eosinophil count in the sputum decreased significantly after theophylline administration. EG2-positive eosinophils also decreased in number. CD4+HLA-DR+ and CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes were significantly decreased, whereas CD8+ T lymphocytes in the sputum were not significantly reduced in number. Respiratory function test showed that forced expiratory volume in 1 s was significantly increased after theophylline administration. The results suggest that a new once-a-day sustained-release theophylline formulation would be useful in the treatment of chronic respiratory tract inflammation.

• Authors: Y Tohda, H Kubo, T Iwanaga, M Fukuoka, S Nakajima
• Journal: The Journal of international medical research (J Int Med Res) 2001 Nov-Dec Vol. 29 Issue 6 Pg. 528-36 ISSN: 0300-0605 [Print] England
• PMID: 11803738 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Theophylline

Topics

• Asthma (drug therapy)
• Eosinophils (drug effects, immunology)
• Humans
• Immunophenotyping
• Lymphocyte Activation (drug effects)
• Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Sputum (cytology)
• Theophylline (pharmacology, therapeutic use)