Background

We and others have shown that the gamma tocopherol (γT) isoform of vitamin E has multiple anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and that γT supplementation reduces eosinophilic and endotoxin (LPS)-induced neutrophilic airway inflammation in animal models and healthy human volunteers.

Objective

We sought to determine whether γT supplementation reduces eosinophilic airway inflammation and acute neutrophilic response to inhaled LPS challenge in volunteers with asthma.

Methods

Participants with mild asthma were enrolled in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study to assess the effect of 1200 mg of γT daily for 14 days on sputum eosinophils, mucins, and cytokines. We also assessed the effect on acute inflammatory response to inhaled LPS challenge following γT treatment, focusing on changes in sputum neutrophilia, mucins, and cytokines. Mucociliary clearance was measured using gamma scintigraphy.

Results

Fifteen subjects with mild asthma completed both arms of the study. Compared with placebo, γT notably reduced pre-LPS challenge sputum eosinophils and mucins, including mucin 5AC and reduced LPS-induced airway neutrophil recruitment 6 and 24 hours after challenge. Mucociliary clearance was slowed 4 hours postchallenge in the placebo group but not in the γT treatment group. Total sputum mucins (but not mucin 5AC) were reduced at 24 hours postchallenge during γT treatment compared with placebo.

Conclusions

When compared with placebo, γT supplementation for 14 days reduced inflammatory features of asthma, including sputum eosinophils and mucins, as well as acute airway response to inhaled LPS challenge. Larger scale clinical trials are needed to assess the efficacy of γT supplements as a complementary or steroid-sparing treatment for asthma.

中文翻译：

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富含γ-生育酚的补充剂可减少哮喘志愿者的痰嗜酸性粒细胞增多和内毒素诱导的痰中性粒细胞减少

背景

我们和其他人已经表明，维生素E的γ-生育酚（γT）亚型具有多种抗炎和抗氧化作用，并且在动物模型和健康人类志愿者中，γT的添加减少了嗜酸性和内毒素（LPS）诱导的嗜中性气道炎症。

客观的

我们试图确定补充γT是否能减轻哮喘志愿者对吸入LPS刺激的嗜酸性气道炎症和急性中性粒细胞反应。

方法

患有轻度哮喘的参与者参加了一项双盲，安慰剂对照的交叉研究，以评估每天1200 mgγT持续14天对痰中嗜酸性粒细胞，黏蛋白和细胞因子的影响。我们还评估了γT治疗后对吸入LPS激发的急性炎症反应的影响，重点是痰中性粒细胞，粘蛋白和细胞因子的变化。黏膜纤毛清除率是使用伽玛闪烁显像法测量的。

结果

15名轻度哮喘患者完成了研究。与安慰剂相比，γT显着减少了LPS攻击前痰中的嗜酸性粒细胞和粘蛋白（包括粘蛋白5AC），并降低了LPS诱导攻击后6和24小时引起的气道中性白细胞募集。安慰剂组在攻击后4小时减慢了纤毛纤毛清除作用，但在γT治疗组中没有。与安慰剂相比，γT治疗期间攻击后24小时总痰液粘蛋白（而非粘蛋白5AC）减少。

结论

与安慰剂相比，补充14天的γT可以减轻哮喘的炎症特征，包括痰嗜酸性粒细胞和粘蛋白，以及对吸入LPS刺激的急性气道反应。需要更大规模的临床试验来评估γT补充剂作为哮喘的补充治疗或类固醇治疗的功效。