BACKGROUND: CC chemokine ligand (CCL)5 and its receptor CCR5 contribute to leukocyte migration into lungs of patients with diffuse lung diseases (DLD). Pharmacological regulation of CCL5 and CCR5 expression was therefore explored in bronchoalveolar cells obtained from patients with DLD. METHODS: Cells from 21 patients were co-cultivated in vitro with tumour necrosis factor-alpha and dexamethasone, cyclosporin A (CyA) or pentoxifylline. Chemokine mRNA expression and protein production was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. RESULTS: Dexamethasone altered CCL5 mRNA expression and suppressed its protein levels. CyA inhibited chemokine mRNA expression but not protein production. Pentoxifylline did not affected chemokine expression. Both dexamethasone and CyA suppressed CCR5 mRNA transcripts. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, while dexamethasone downregulates the CCL5 functional form, CyA and pentoxifylline have no effects on CCL5 protein. These data provide in vitro correlation for clinical applications of immunomodulators in therapy of DLD.

• MeSH
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid cytology   MeSH
• Chemokine CCL5 MeSH
• Chemokines, CC genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Cyclosporine pharmacology   MeSH
• Dexamethasone pharmacology   MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Glucocorticoids pharmacology   MeSH
• Immunosuppressive Agents pharmacology   MeSH
• Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology   MeSH
• Cells, Cultured MeSH
• Leukocytes cytology   drug effects   immunology   metabolism   MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• RNA, Messenger metabolism   MeSH
• Pentoxifylline pharmacology   MeSH
• Lung Diseases metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Receptors, CCR5 genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha pharmacology   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Names of Substances
• CCL5 protein, human MeSH Browser
• Chemokine CCL5 MeSH
• Chemokines, CC MeSH
• Cyclosporine MeSH
• Dexamethasone MeSH
• Glucocorticoids MeSH
• Immunosuppressive Agents MeSH
• Enzyme Inhibitors MeSH
• RNA, Messenger MeSH
• Pentoxifylline MeSH
• Receptors, CCR5 MeSH
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha MeSH