Roflumilast Attenuates MUC5AC and MUC5B Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells

Abstract

Received June 23, 2014 Revised July 23, 2014 Accepted July 24, 2014 Address for correspondence Yong-Dae Kim, MD, PhD Department of OtorhinolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, 170 Hyeonchung-ro, Nam-gu, Daegu 705-802, Korea Tel +82-53-620-3781 Fax +82-53-628-7884 E-mail ydkim@med.yu.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZRoflumilast, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4, has an anti-inflammatory property. It has been used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. However, the effect of roflumilast on mucus secretion in inflammatory airway epithelial cells has not been reported. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the effects of roflumilast on the inflammatory mediator-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B expression in human airway epithelial cells. Materials and MethodZZIn human mucin-producing NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells and primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells, the effects of roflumilast on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)and phorbl-12-myrsitate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ResultsZZRoflumilast attenuated LPS-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and glycoprotein expression in NCI-H292 cells. And roflumilast attenuated PMA-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and glycoprotein expression in NCI-H292 cells. In addition, roflumilast attenuated LPS and PMA-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA expression in the primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells. ConclusionZZThese results suggest that roflumilast attenuates MUC5AC and MUC5B expressions in airway epithelial cells. Roflumilast may be a potentially ideal therapeutic agent for the control of mucus-hypersecretion in treating chronic inflammatory airway diseases. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2014;57(12):830-5