The role of IFN-γ in severe COPD patients with anamnestic viral-induced exacerbations before and after roflumilast treatment

Abstract

Background: The most common inflammatory disease of the airways is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the incidence of it is increasing throughout the world. Roflumilast - a phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor, through selective inhibition of the PDE-4 enzyme prevents the breakdown of cyclic AMP, which plays an important role in regulating inflammatory cell activity. Aims and objectives: To investigate the dynamics of IFN-γ levels in bronchoalveolar contents before and after 180 days roflumilast treatment added to maintenance therapy. Materials and methods: The study involved 61 patients with stage III COPD. The levels of IFN-γ were specifically quantified in bronchial content by ELISA with“StatFax 303 Plus” using reagents VECTOR–BEST. Results of the study: It was identified positive dynamic of IFN-γ levels in bronchoalveolar fluid only after 6-month of roflumilast therapy in patients with severe COPD. At the time of treatment completion the level decreases in 2.15 times comparison data before receiving treatment. Conclusions: There have been enormous importance in the identification of IFN-γ in patients with COPD. Roflumilast in severe COPD provides stabilization of IFN-γ levels especially long-term roflumilast use.