Philippe Devillier

Roflumilast inhibits the release of chemokines and TNF-α from human lung macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Lung macrophages are critically involved in respiratory diseases. This study assessed the effects of the PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast and its active metabolite, roflumilast N‐oxide on the release of a range of chemokines (CCL2, 3, 4, CXCL1, 8, 10) and of TNF‐α, from human lung macrophages, stimulated with bacterial lipopolysaccharide LPS.

Cannabinoids inhibit cholinergic contraction in human airways through prejunctional CB1 receptors

Marijuana smoking is widespread in many countries, and the use of smoked synthetic cannabinoids is increasing. Smoking a marijuana joint leads to bronchodilation in both healthy subjects and asthmatics. The effects of Δ9‐tetrahydrocannabinol and synthetic cannabinoids on human bronchus reactivity have not previously been investigated. Here, we sought to assess the effects of natural and synthetic cannabinoids on cholinergic bronchial contraction.

The role of adenosine receptors in regulating production of tumour necrosis factor-α and chemokines by human lung macrophages

Background and purpose:  Adenosine is a major endogenous regulator of macrophage function, and activates four specific adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B and A3). Here, we have assessed in human lung macrophages the modulation of the expression of adenosine receptor mRNA by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the relative contributions of the different adenosine receptors to LPS‐induced production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and chemokines.