Effects of the phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor roflumilast on early and late allergic response and airway hyperresponsiveness in aspergillus-fumigatus-sensitized mice

Background: Inhibitory effects of roflumilast on responses characteristic of allergic asthma were investigated in a fungal asthma model in BALB/c mice. Methods: Mice were sensitized with Aspergillus antigen (Afu) and exposed to Afu or vehicle, and given roflumilast 1 or 5 mg/kg. Early airway response (EAR) and late airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) to methacholine were measured via plethysmography. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was used to assess inflammatory cell count. Results: In Afu-exposed mice, roflumilast dose-dependently reduced the EAR [26% at 1 mg/kg (NS) and 94% at 5 mg/kg (p < 0.01)] and AHR [46% at 1 mg/kg (NS) and 128% at 5 mg/kg (p < 0.05)]. Roflumilast 5 mg/kg reduced neutrophil, eosinophil and lymphocyte counts [87% (p < 0.01), 40% (NS) and 67% (p < 0.01), respectively] in BAL fluid versus controls. Conclusions: In this model, roflumilast inhibited the EAR, suppressed AHR and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration