| Title | Enhancement of the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of theophylline by a low dose of a nitric oxide donor or non-specific nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. | | Author(s) | Gomaa A, Elshenawy M, Afifi N, Mohammed E, Thabit R | | Institution | Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Taibah University, Al-madinah Almunawwarah, KSA. | | Source | Br J Pharmacol 2009 Nov 3. | | Abstract | Background and purpose: Although there are many new specific phosphodiesterase inhibitors with anti-inflammatory activity, none have yet reached the market because of their low therapeutic efficacy. Our study was aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effect of an established phosphodiesterase inhibitor, theophylline, and to investigate the effect of the nitric oxide (NO) donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or NO synthase inhibitor, L-N(G)-monomethyl arginine (L-NMMA) on its actions. Experimental approach: The effects of theophylline alone and combined with SNP or L-NMMA on the pathogenesis of adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats were evaluated. Key results: Prophylactic or therapeutic doses of theophylline significantly ameliorated the pathogenesis of adjuvant arthritis in rats as evidenced by a significant decrease in the arthritis index, hind paws volume, ankle joint diameter, fever, body weight loss and hyperalgesia in a dose-dependent manner. Inflammatory cellular infiltrate in synovium of ankle joint and pannus formation were also markedly inhibited. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels were significantly increased in arthritic rats given theophylline alone or in combination with either SNP or L-NMMA. Co-administration of a low dose of SNP or L-NMMA enhanced significantly the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effect of theophylline. In contrast, a high dose of SNP counteracted the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of theophylline. Conclusions and Implication: These findings confirm the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities of theophylline and suggest a new approach to enhance the anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects of theophylline would be to administer it in combination with a low dose of a NO donor or a non-specific NO synthase inhibitor. | | Language | ENG | | Pub Type(s) | JOURNAL ARTICLE
| | PubMed ID | 19888960 |
|
