THE ROLE OF THEOPHILLINE AND LEUKOTRIENE RESEPTOR ANTAGONIST IN AIRWAY SENSITIVITY AND INFILTRATING EOSINOPHIL OF THE AIRWAY IN GUINEA PIG ASTHMA MODEL

Abstract

Since asthmatic bronchitis is defined as chronic inflammation, antiinf lammatory therapy such as an inhaled steroid and a leukotriene receptor antagonist have become very important. In addition, it has recently been reported that theophylline has an anti-inflammatory effect. We examined the role of theophilline in a guinea pig model of allergen-induced chronic lung inflammation. Guinea pigs, after intraperitoneal (Day 1) and intranasal (Day 15 and 22) ovalbumine (OVA) sensitization, and subse uent OVA inhalation for 2 weeks showed an increase in infiltrating eosinophils and airway resistance and an enlarged wall area, indicating an asthma-like development. The animals were treated with theophylline 7 mg/kg/d or leukotriene receptor antagonist 10 mg/kg/d during the study period. The dose-response relationship between airway resistance and nebulized acetylcholine was obtained before and after treatment. Animals treated with theophylline showed decreased of infiltrating eosinophils, the wall area in cartilaginous airways, and airway resistance. Results also showed that theophyline was able to inhibit infiltration of eosinophils even in the smooth muscle of cartilaginous airways where steroid inhalation therapy could not. On the other the hand, animals treated with leukotriene receptor antagonist showed only a decreased in airway resistance. These results suggest that theophylline has the same or more of an anti-inflammatory effect on asthma than leukotriene receptor antagonist.