Fluticasone/salmeterol reduces remodelling and neutrophilic inflammation in severe equine asthma

Sci Rep. 2017 Aug 18;7(1):8843. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-09414-8.

Abstract

Asthmatic airways are inflamed and undergo remodelling. Inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonist combinations are more effective than inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy in controlling disease exacerbations, but their effect on airway remodelling and inflammation remains ill-defined. This study evaluates the contribution of inhaled fluticasone and salmeterol, alone or combined, to the reversal of bronchial remodelling and inflammation. Severely asthmatic horses (6 horses/group) were treated with fluticasone, salmeterol, fluticasone/salmeterol, or with antigen avoidance for 12 weeks. Lung function, central and peripheral airway remodelling, and bronchoalveolar inflammation were assessed. Fluticasone/salmeterol and fluticasone monotherapy decreased peripheral airway smooth muscle remodelling after 12 weeks (p = 0.007 and p = 0.02, respectively). On average, a 30% decrease was observed with both treatments. In central airways, fluticasone/salmeterol reversed extracellular matrix remodelling after 12 weeks, both within the lamina propria (decreased thickness, p = 0.005) and within the smooth muscle layer (p = 0.004). Only fluticasone/salmeterol decreased bronchoalveolar neutrophilia (p = 0.03) to the same extent as antigen avoidance already after 8 weeks. In conclusion, this study shows that fluticasone/salmeterol combination decreases extracellular matrix remodelling in central airways and intraluminal neutrophilia. Fluticasone/salmeterol and fluticasone monotherapy equally reverse peripheral airway smooth muscle remodelling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Airway Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology
  • Asthma / diagnosis*
  • Asthma / drug therapy
  • Asthma / etiology*
  • Bronchodilator Agents / pharmacology
  • Child
  • Disease Progression
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fluticasone / pharmacology*
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Muscle, Smooth / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth / metabolism
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects*
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects*
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate / pharmacology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Fluticasone

Grants and funding