Interaction between glucocorticoids and β2 agonists on bronchial airway smooth muscle cells through synchronised cellular signalling

Abstract

Background: Increased airway smooth muscle bulk is a pathological feature of asthma. Asthma is well controlled by the combined inhalation of glucocorticoids and β2-adrenoceptor agonists. The basic molecular mechanism of the interaction of the two drugs on proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells is yet to be identified. Our aim was to elucidate how glucocorticoids and β2 agonists affect the growth of human bronchial airway smooth muscle cells. Methods: We assessed the effect of formoterol and budesonide on the activation and function of transcription factors by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, DNA mobility shift assay, and a luciferase reporter gene assay. The effect of the drugs a..