Effects of some drugs used for treatment of bronchial asthma on proliferation and apoptosis of human mononuclear cells in vitro

Abstract

Effects in vitro of salbutamol, theophylline, budesonide, cromoglicic acid and β-carotene in their therapeutic concentrations on spontaneous and PHA-induced proliferation and apoptosis of mononuclear cells (MNC) were  studied, p-carotene and budesonide decreased [3H]-TdR incorporation in PHA-stimulated MNC. On the otherhand, salbutamol, theophylline and cromoglicic acid did not effect on [3H]-TdR incorporation in PHA-stimulated MNC. p-carotene also enhanced the apoptosis of MNC but the other tested drugs did not influence on it. Thus, β-carotene has a strong anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on human MNC. These results suggest that β-carotene could be as useful as corticosteroids for reduction of MNC functional activity causing the inflammation in bronchial asthma.