Methods: Nasal epithelial cells (5 x 106 cells/ml) were stimulated with 20 ng/ml TNF-α in the presence of various concentrations of FEX for 24 h. CC10 levels in culture supernatants were examined by ELISA. Patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis were orally treated with FEX twice a day at a single dose of 60 mg for two weeks during Japanese cedar pollen season (February 2011 to April 2011). CC10 levels in nasal secretions were also examined by ELISA.
Results: The addition of FEX into epithelial cell cultures caused dose-dependent increase in the ability of cells to produce CC10 in response to TNF-α stimulation, and the minimum concentration that caused significant increase was 200 ng/ml. Oral administration of FEX for two weeks also increased CC10 levels in nasal secretions from pollinosis patients along with attenuation of clinical symptoms.
Conclusions: The ability of FEX to enhance CC10 production may account, at least in part, for the clinical efficacy of the agent on allergic disorders, including allergic rhinitis.