The effect of erdosteine on airway defence mechanisms and inflammatory cytokines in the settings of allergic inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Mucoactive agent, erdosteine, besides mucolytic activity, is characterized by many other pharmacodynamic properties which could be beneficial in the management of inflammatory conditions.

BACKGROUND: s: Using guinea pig experimental model of allergic inflammation, we evaluated the ability of erdosteine to modulate airway defence mechanisms and inflammation after 10 days (10 mg/kg/day) administration.

METHODS: In vivo changes in specific airway resistance and amplitude of tracheal contraction were estimated to evaluate the bronchodilatory effect. The sensitivity of chemically induced cough reflex was estimated via in vivo method. The ciliary beat frequency assessed on brushed tracheal cells was used as an indicator of the mucociliary clearance rate. The concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IL-10 were measured in BALF using multiplex detecting method.

RESULTS: Our data show that 10 days erdosteine administration resulted in bronchodilation and stimulation of ciliary beat frequency. Erdosteine did not affect the parameters of chemically induced cough reflex. Erdosteine demonstrated the modest decline in inflammatory cytokines IL-5, IL-13 and an increase in the concentration of IL-10, which is a potent regulator of inflammatory responses and plays a critical role in controlling allergic airway inflammation.

CONCLUSION: In summary, we can state, that erdosteine is multi-action drug and it seems to have many beneficial and complementary effect in the management of chronic inflammatory airway diseases complicated by viscous mucus.