薬理と治療

Abstract

Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of epinastinehydrochloride（EP）on the production of both thymus−and activation−regulated chemokine（TARC）and macrophage−derived chemokine（MDC）from human CD14＋cells induced by antigenicstimulation with Japanese cedar pollen（Cry j1）in vitro.Methods CD14＋cells（1×105cells／mL）obtained from 5 patients with pollinosis against Japanesecedar pollen were stimulated with 100 ng／mL Cry j1 in the absence or presence of EP.TARC and MDC levels in 6−day culture supernatants were assayed by ELISA. We also examinedthe influence of EP on mRNA expression and transcription factor, NF−κB, activation in24−hour cultured cells by RT−PCR and ELISA, respectively.Results EP could inhibit the production of both TARC and MDC from CD14＋cells afterCry j1 stimulation. The minimum concentrations that caused significant suppression were 25ng／mL for TARC and 10 ng／mL for MDC. EP also exerted the suppressive effects on chemokinemRNA expression and NF−κB activation, which are enhanced by Cry j1 stimulation.Conclusion The present results strongly suggest that EP inhibits Th2 type helper T cellmigration into the sites of allergic immune responses and results in attenuation of clinical conditionsof allergic diseases, including pollinosis.（Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2009；37：569−76）KEY WORDS Epinastine hydrochloride, CD14＋cells, Cry j1, CC chemokine, Suppression