Comparison of anti-inflammatory mechanisms between doxofylline and theophylline in human monocytes. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Talmon, Maria; Massara, Erika; Brunini, Chiara; Fresu, Luigia Grazia
• Is Part Of: Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics. Volume 59(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Monocytes -- Methylxanthines -- Theophylline -- Doxofylline -- Cytokines -- Superoxide anion; COPD chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide -- DTT dithiothreitol -- EDTA ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid -- EGTA ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid -- FBS fetal bovine serum -- HDACs histone deacetylases -- LPS lipopolysaccharide -- MOPS 3-(N-morpholino) propanesulfonic acid -- MTT methylthiazolyldiphenyl-tetrazolium bromide -- PDE phosphodiesterases -- PI3K-δ phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ -- PKC phosphor kinase C -- PMA phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate -- PMSF phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride -- SOD superoxide dismutase; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.7205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pupt.2019.101851
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1094-5539

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Methylxanthines are important pharmacological agents in the treatment of asthma and of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases. The present study was designed to compare the ability of doxofylline and theophylline to modulate inflammatory pathways in human monocytes. Methods: Monocytes isolated from healthy anonymous human buffy coats were treated with doxofylline or theophylline in the presence of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and their phenotype, the oxidative burst, cytokine expression and release, cAMP production, and protein kinase C (PKC) activity were evaluated. Results: Doxofylline and theophylline did not have overlapping effects on human monocytes. While sharing some common characteristics, they differed significantly in their selectivity. Theophylline affected LPS- above PMA-induced cellular responsivity, while doxofylline behaved in the opposite manner. Furthermore, when testing PKC activity, we found an inhibitory effect of doxofylline but not of theophylline, at equimolar doses. Conclusions: In conclusion, our data support the growing hypothesis that doxofylline does not have a superimposable mechanism of action compared to theophylline, and this may both explain some differences in the risk/benefit ratio and may direct studies to tailor therapy for patients.