Abstract
We have used an optimized, physiologically relevant in vitro assay system to show that in a concentration-dependent fashion the immunomodulatory drugs cyclosporin A, mycophenolate mofetil, and sirolimus (rapamycin), as well as the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, inhibit allergen-driven T-cell proliferation and IL-5 production in PBMCs from allergen-sensitized atopic asthmatic individuals at physiologic concentrations. This effect of cyclosporin A might at least partially account for its established clinical efficacy in sparing systemic glucocorticoid therapy while improving lung function in chronic, severe, glucocorticoid-dependent asthma. The data are also compatible with the hypothesis that the newer immunomodulatory drugs mycophenolate mofetil and sirolimus exert similar effects, perhaps with a more favorable benefit/risk ratio.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 915 - 917 |
| Number of pages | 3 |
| Journal | Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
| Volume | 108 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2001 |
Keywords
- Asthma/drug therapy
- Cyclosporine/pharmacology
- Dexamethasone/pharmacology
- Humans
- Immunosuppressive Agents/pharmacology
- Interleukin-5/biosynthesis
- Lymphocyte Activation/drug effects
- Mycophenolic Acid/analogs & derivatives
- Sirolimus/pharmacology
