Oxatomide inhibits Interleukin-8 release from respiratory epithelial cells

Background: Oxatomide, a H1-receptor antagonist, exerts besides its well-known anti-allergic potential an array of anti-inflammatory activities. We wondered whether oxatomide might influence the release of IL-8 from human epithelial cells activated with agonists of TLR2, which mainly expresses on airway epithelial cells. Methodology: We used the human lung epithelial cell line A549 and primary Human nasal epithelial cell line for our in vitro studies. IL-8 releases from these cell lines were determined by IL-8 enzyme immunoassay. NF-kB was analysed by Luciferase reporter assay. Confluent epithelial cell monolayer were pre-incubated with oxatomide for 30 min and afterwards activated with lipoprotein as a TLR2 agonist for 24 h. Results: Epithelial cells stimulated with lipoprotein showed a significantly increased release of IL-8. Pre-incubation with oxatomide diminished the IL-8 release from cells activated with lipoprotein in a significant manner. Furthermore, activity of the NF-kB was determined by luciferase reporter assy. Besides, oxatomide inhibits expression of MIP2, a homologue of human IL-8, and neutrophilic infiltration in nasal membrane of mice intranasally exposed with lipoprotein. These results suggest that oxatomide reduced the release of IL-8 from respiratory epithelial cells stimulated with lipoprotein. Conclusion: Therefore, oxatomide might exert anti-inflammatory effects beyond its H1-receptor antagonistic activity in the course of inflammatory respiratory tract disorders such as acute bacterial rhinitis.