Reduced Airway Hyperresponsiveness by Phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 Inhibitors in Guinea-Pigs

• Main Authors: Nöella Germain, Elisabeth Boichot, Jean-Michel Planquois, Vincent Lagente
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 1999-01-01
• Series: Mediators of Inflammation
• Subjects: Selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor; Guinea-pig; Airway hyperresponsiveness.
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09629359990487

The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of selective phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3, 4 and 5 inhibitors on antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in sensitized guinea-pigs. When the sensitized guinea-pigs were orally pre-treated with the selective PDE4 inhibitor, Ro 20-1724 (30 mg/kg), and studied 48 h after OA, a significant reduction (p<0.01) of the leftward shift of the dose-response curve to ACh was noted, whereas it was ineffective at the lower dose (10 mg/kg). Administration of the selective PDE3 inhibitor, milrinone (30 mg/kg) also elicited a significant reduction (p<0.01) of the airway hyperresponsiveness, whereas the PDE5 inhibitor zaprinast (30 mg/kg) was ineffective. These results show that both PDE3 and PDE4 inhibitors are able to inhibit the antigen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness in sensitized guinea-pigs and support the potential utility of selective PDE inhibitors in the treatment of asthma.