Inhaled Salmeterol/Fluticasone Propionate

Neonatal therapy with clenbuterol and salmeterol restores spinogenesis and dendritic complexity in the dentate gyrus of the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome

Down syndrome (DS), a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is characterized by intellectual disability. In DS, defective neurogenesis causes an overall reduction in the number of neurons populating the brain and defective neuron maturation causes dendritic hypotrophy and reduction in the density of dendritic spines. No effective therapy currently exists for the improvement of brain development in individuals with DS. Drug repurposing is a strategy for identifying new medical use for approved drugs. A drug screening campaign showed that the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) agonists clenbuterol hydrochloride (CLEN) and salmeterol xinafoate (SALM) increase the proliferation rate of neural progenitor cells from the Ts65Dn model of DS. The goal of the current study was to establish their efficacy in vivo, in the Ts65Dn model. We found that, at variance with the in vitro experiments, treatment with CLEN or SALM did not restore neurogenesis in the hippocampus of Ts65Dn mice treated during the postnatal (P) period P3-P15. In Ts65Dn mice treated with CLEN or SALM, however, dendritic spine density and dendritic arborization of the hippocampal granule cells were restored and the lowest dose tested here (0.01 mg/kg/day) was sufficient to elicit these effects. CLEN and SALM are used in children as therapy for asthma and, importantly, they pass the blood-brain barrier. Our study suggests that treatment with these β2-AR agonists may be a therapy of choice in order to correct dendritic development in DS but is not suitable to rescue neurogenesis.

Effect of salmeterol/fluticasone combination on the dynamic changes of lung mechanics in mechanically ventilated COPD patients: a prospective pilot study

BACKGROUND

The combined therapy of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 agonists for mechanically ventilated patients with COPD has never been explored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate their dynamic effects on lung mechanics and gas exchange.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ten mechanically ventilated patients with resolution of the causes of acute exacerbations of COPD were included. Four puffs of salmeterol 25 μg/fluticasone 125 μg combination therapy were administered. Lung mechanics, including maximum resistance of the respiratory system (Rrs), end-inspiratory static compliance, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), plateau pressure, and mean airway pressure along with gas exchange function were measured and analyzed.

RESULTS

Salmeterol/fluticasone produced a significant improvement in Rrs and PIP after 30 minutes. With regard to changes in baseline values, salmeterol/fluticasone inhalation had a greater effect on PIP than Rrs. However, the therapeutic effects seemed to lose significance after 3 hours of inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta-2 agonist administration.

CONCLUSION

The combination of salmeterol/fluticasone-inhaled therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with COPD had a significant benefit in reducing Rrs and PIP.

Stimulus-selective regulation of human mast cell gene expression, degranulation and leukotriene production by fluticasone and salmeterol

Despite the fact that glucocorticoids and long acting beta agonists are effective treatments for asthma, their effects on human mast cells (MC) appear to be modest. Although MC are one of the major effector cells in the underlying inflammatory reactions associated with asthma, their regulation by these drugs is not yet fully understood and, in some cases, controversial. Using a human immortalized MC line (LAD2), we studied the effects of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SM), on the release of early and late phase mediators. LAD2 cells were pretreated with FP (100 nM), SM (1 µM), alone and in combination, at various incubation times and subsequently stimulated with agonists substance P, C3a and IgE/anti-IgE. Degranulation was measured by the release of β-hexosaminidase. Cytokine and chemokine expression were measured using quantitative PCR, ELISA and cytometric bead array (CBA) assays. The combination of FP and SM synergistically inhibited degranulation of MC stimulated with substance P (33% inhibition compared to control, n = 3, P<.05). Degranulation was inhibited by FP alone, but not SM, when MC were stimulated with C3a (48% inhibition, n = 3, P<.05). As previously reported, FP and SM did not inhibit degranulation when MC were stimulated with IgE/anti-IgE. FP and SM in combination inhibited substance P-induced release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), CCL2, and CXCL8 (98%, 99% and 92% inhibition, respectively, n = 4, P<.05). Fluticasone and salmeterol synergistically inhibited mediator production by human MC stimulated with the neuropeptide substance P. This synergistic effect on mast cell signaling may be relevant to the therapeutic benefit of combination therapy in asthma.

Expression levels of induced sputum IL-8 and IL-10 and drug intervention effects in patients with acute exacerbated COPD complicated with chronic cor pulmonale at high altitude

The aim of this study was to assess the expression levels of induced sputum interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-10 levels in patients with acute exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) complicated with chronic cor pulmonale (CCP) at high altitude, and to evaluate the intervention effects of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and a β₂-adrenoceptor agonist in this disease. A total of 186 patients with AECOPD complicated with CCP were randomly divided into three groups, with 62 cases in each. With regard to the two treatment groups, group A was treated with salmeterol/fluticasone (50 μg/250 μg, respectively) by airway inhalation twice daily, while group B received budesonide (1 mg) as a spray inhalation, twice daily. The routine treatment group (group C) received only routine treatment. The levels of IL-8 and IL-10 in the induced sputum and the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV_1%pred), partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO₂) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO₂) were examined on admission and at a stable stage two weeks following treatment. Forty healthy volunteers served as a control group (group D). Compared with group D values, the IL-8 induced sputum level and the PaCO₂ were significantly increased, while the level of IL-10, FEV_1%pred and the PaO₂ were markedly decreased in the three COPD groups prior to treatment. Following treatment, the induced sputum IL-8 level and the PaCO₂ were significantly decreased, while the induced sputum IL-10 level, FEV_1%pred and the PaO₂ were markedly increased in the three treatment groups compared with the values pre-therapy (all P<0.01). The post-treatment parameters were significantly different among the three groups (P<0.01). The results indicate that IL-8 and IL-10 are involved in the airway inflammation of AECOPD complicated by CCP. Treatment with an ICS was demonstrated to be a successful method of reducing the local expression of IL-8 and increasing the local expression of IL-10; however, ICS combined with a long-acting β₂-adrenoceptor agonist (LABA) was more effective than the sole administration of ICS in patients with AECOPD complicated by CCP at high altitude.

Inhaled Corticosteroids and Long-Acting β2-Agonists in Treatment of Patients with Chronic Bronchiolitis Following Exposure to Sulfur Mustard

We examined the role of two regimens of combination inhaler therapy on amount of reversibility of chronic lung complications in mustard gas exposed patients. In a phase III, prospective, randomized clinical trial, 105 participants received either combination form of fluticasone propionate and salmetrol, 500/100 microg daily (group 1; n = 52) or beclomethasone, 1000 microg daily, and salbutamol inhaler, 800 microg daily (group 2; n = 53) for 12 wk. Pulmonary function test (PFT) indices and respiratory symptoms (including dyspnea, night awakening due to dyspnea and cough) were assessed at baseline and in each visit. Thirty-six patients in group 1 and 30 patients in group 2 completed study course. Both medication regimes increased pretreatment forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC%, and peak expiratory force (PEF) by the end of 12 wk. It seems that these improvements are more constant in group 1 than in group 2. Reversibility, that is, 10% increase of FEV1 in the second month was seen for 27% of patients in the group 1 and for 7% in the group 2. VAS scores have decreased in two groups during treatment period (p = .003) and after follow-up period it remained sustained in group 1 alone. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta 2-agonists are effective in treatment of patients with chronic bronchiolitis following exposure to sulfur mustard. However, a medium dose of fluticasone/salmeterol has the same effect on the airways reversibility, rather than a very high dose of beclomethasone with only the short-acting beta-agonist.

Lung function response to 12-week treatment with combined inhalation of long-acting beta2 agonist and glucocorticoid according to ADRB2 polymorphism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Recent reports suggest that beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) genotypes are associated with therapeutic responses to beta(2) agonists in asthmatics. However, few studies have investigated therapeutic responses to beta(2) agonists in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. This study investigated immediate bronchodilator response and lung function responses following a 12-week treatment with a long-acting beta(2) agonist combined with a steroid inhaler in patients with COPD with various ADRB2 genotypes. One hundred four patients with chronic obstruction were genotyped for codon 16 and 27 polymorphisms of the ADRB2 gene. The immediate bronchodilator response to beta(2)-agonist treatment was evaluated after inhalation of 400 microg salbutamol. In addition, long-term response was evaluated using observed change in spirometric values before and after the treatment with salmeterol (50 microg) combined with fluticasone propionate (500 microg) inhalation twice daily for 12 weeks. In terms of codon 16 variants, the immediate bronchodilator response to salbutamol was 6.4 +/- 0.8% (% predicted value) in Arg/Arg patients, 4.9 +/- 0.7% in Arg/Gly patients, and 5.8 +/- 1.2% in Gly/Gly patients (p = 0.418). The FEV(1) changes following the 12-week treatment were 7.0 +/- 1.2% in Arg/Arg patients, 3.0 +/- 1.5% in Arg/Gly patients, and 7.2 +/- 1.2% in Gly/Gly patients (p = 0.229). Similarly, there was no difference between codon 27 variants in terms of immediate bronchodilator response or FEV1 changes after 12 weeks of treatment. We were unable to demonstrate an association between ADRB2 genotype and the effect on lung function of 12-week treatment with combined long-acting beta(2) agonist and glucocorticoid inhalation or on the immediate bronchodilator response to a short-acting beta(2) agonist in patients with COPD.

Budesonide-formoterol (inhalation powder) in the treatment of COPD

The budesonide-formoterol dry powder inhaler (Symbicort Turbuhaler 160/ 4.5-640/18 microg/day) contains the long-acting beta2-adrenoreceptor agonist formoterol and the inhaled corticosteroid budesonide. Two large, 12-month trials examined the effect of budesonide-formoterol 160/4.5 microg twice daily in COPD patients who met these criteria. The studies were identical, except one in which the patients had received oral prednisolone 30 mg/ day and had inhaled formoterol 4.5 microg twice daily for 2 weeks before randomization. In terms of the FEV1, budesonide-formoterol produced an effect greater than that of both budesonide alone and formoterol alone reported in previous studies. The combination was generally more effective than either of the components in terms of peak expiratory flow, symptoms, and exacerbations. These advantages of the combination over those of either budesonide alone or formoterol alone were quite consistent. Improving lung function and decreasing symptoms significantly, budesonide-formoterol combination therapy provides significant clinical improvements in COPD, despite the limited reversibility of impaired lung function in the disease.