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Reduction of neutrophilic lung inflammation by inhalation of the compatible solute ectoine: a randomized trial with elderly individuals
- Source :
- International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, The International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 11(1): 2573-2583
- Publication Year :
- 2016
- Publisher :
- Dove Medical Press, 2016.
-
Abstract
- Klaus Unfried,1,* Ursula Krämer,1,* Ulrich Sydlik,1 Andrea Autengruber,1 Andreas Bilstein,2 Sabine Stolz,1 Alessandra Marini,1 Tamara Schikowski,1 Stefanie Keymel,3 Jean Krutmann1 1IUF Leibniz Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, 2bitop AG, Witten, 3Department of Cardiology, Pneumology and Angiology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany *These authors contributed equally to this work Background: Compatible solutes are natural substances that are known to stabilize cellular functions. Preliminary exvivo and invivo studies demonstrated that the compatible solute ectoine restores natural apoptosis rates of lung neutrophils and contributes to the resolution of lung inflammation. Due to the low toxicity and known compatibility of the substance, an inhalative application as an intervention strategy for humans suffering from diseases caused by neutrophilic inflammation, like COPD, had been suggested. As a first approach to test the feasibility and efficacy of such a treatment, we performed a population-based randomized trial.Objective: The objective of the study was to test whether the daily inhalation of the registered ectoine-containing medical device (Ectoin® inhalation solution) leads to a reduction of neutrophilic cells and interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels in the sputum of persons with mild symptoms of airway disease due to lifelong exposure to environmental air pollution.Methods: A double-blinded placebo-controlled trial was performed to study the efficacy and safety of an ectoine-containing therapeutic. Prior to and after both inhalation periods, lung function, inflammatory parameters in sputum, serum markers, and quality-of-life parameters were determined.Results: While the other outcomes revealed no significant effects, sputum parameters were changed by the intervention. Nitrogen oxides (nitrate and nitrite) were significantly reduced after ectoine inhalation with a mean quotient of 0.65 (95% confidence interval 0.45–0.93). Extended analyses considering period effects revealed that the percentage of neutrophils in sputum was significantly lower after ectoine inhalation than in the placebo group (P=0.035) even after the washout phase.Conclusion: The current study is the first human trial in which the effects of inhaled ectoine on neutrophilic lung inflammation were investigated. Besides demonstrating beneficial effects on inflammatory sputum parameters, the study proves the feasibility of the therapeutic approach in an aged study group. Keywords: osmolytes, extremolytes, molecular prevention, neutrophil apoptosis, SALIA cohort, air pollution
- Subjects :
- Male
Time Factors
Neutrophils
air pollution
extremolytes
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Apoptosis
International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Double-Blind Method
molecular prevention
Germany
Surveys and Questionnaires
neutrophil apoptosis
Administration, Inhalation
osmolytes
SALIA cohort
Humans
Lung
Nitrites
Original Research
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross-Over Studies
Nitrates
Age Factors
Sputum
Amino Acids, Diamino
Pneumonia
Respiratory Function Tests
Treatment Outcome
Quality of Life
Feasibility Studies
Female
Inflammation Mediators
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 11782005 and 11769106
- Volume :
- 11
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Accession number :
- edsair.pmid.dedup....6809661e2921496570fb6588ec94e9bc