Effect Of Theophylline On The Change Of MMP-9 And TIMP-1 In Induced Sputum Of Patients With Asthma

Objectives: To observe the changes of symptom, physical sign, pulmonary function and the levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in induced sputum of patients with persistent asthma before and after aminophylline treatment and to explore the relation between asthma and the ratio of MMPs: TIMPs and to illuminate the mechanism of aminophylline in treatment of asthma. We collected their induced sputum before and after treatment, examining the levels of MMP-9,TIMP-1(ELISA).Methods: We selected 60 patients with persistent asthma, and divided them into treatment group and control group by random control trial. The treatment group took 100mg of theophylline Sustained Release Tablets before having breakfast and sleeping, inhaled salbutamol 200μg, Tid. The control group inhaled salbutamol 200μg, Tid. Both of two groups were treated for 8 weeks. Results: The overall effective rate of treatment group was 73.3％, as compared to 46.7％of control group(p＜0.05). MMP-9 levels were similar in both groups before and after treatment(P＞0.05). TIMP-1 level is increased significantly from (654.5±27.4)ng/ml to (986.5±27.4)ng/ml after 2 months of aminophylline treatment(P＜0.05), but the difference in control group is not significant(p＞0.05). MMPs: TIMPs ratio was descend significantly after 8 weeks treatment in treatment group(P＜0.05), but the ratio in control group was not significantly changed after treatment(P＞0.05).. Conclusions: Combination treatment of Aminophylline and.β-receptor agonist can improve curative effect of patients with persistent asthma. The possible mechanism is that Aminophylline can upgrade the level of TIMP-1 and then downgrade the ratio of MMPs: TIMPs.