Pentoxifylline and its active metabolite lisofylline attenuate transforming growth factor ?1-induced asthmatic bronchial fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition.

Pentoxifylline and its active metabolite lisofylline attenuate transforming growth factor ?1-induced asthmatic bronchial fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition.

Acta Biochim Pol. 2016 Jul 30;

Authors: Wójcik-Pszczo?a K, Hi?cza K, Wnuk D, K?dzio?ka D, Koczurkiewicz P, Sanak M, Madeja Z, P?kala E, Michalik M

Abstract
Bronchial asthma is characterized by persistent airway inflammation and airway wall remodeling. Among many different cells and growth factors triggering changes in bronchi structure, transforming growth factor ?1-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast transition is believed to be very important. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether theophylline (used in asthma therapy) and two other methylxanthines (pentoxifylline and its active metabolite lisofylline), may affect transforming growth factor ?1-induced fibroblast to myofibroblast transition in bronchial fibroblasts derived from asthmatic patients. We show here for the first time that selected methylxanthines effectively reduce transforming growth factor ?1-induced myofibroblast formation in asthmatic bronchial fibroblast populations. PTX was found to be the most effective methylxanthine. The number of differentiated myofibroblasts after PTX, LSF and THEO administration was reduced at least twofold. Studies on the use of methylxanthines opens a new perspective in the development of novel strategies in asthma therapy through their two-pronged, anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic action. In the future they can be considered as promising anti-fibrotic drugs.

PMID: 27474406 [PubMed – as supplied by publisher]

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NIH Expands National Network for Transforming Clinical and Translational Research

Nine health research centers have received funds to develop ways to reduce the time it takes for clinical research to become treatments for patients. The funds were awarded as part of the Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) program which is led by the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), part of the National Institutes of Health.

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