Description
Fluticasone is an agonist at β2-adrenergic receptors that is clinically used to treat asthma and COPD; it exhibits anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, anti-asthma, and anti-allergic activities. In airway epithelial cells, fluticasone increases expression of IκB kinase, preventing activation of NF-κB. In other in vitro models, fluticasone decreases lymphocyte activation, particularly mast cell activation, and decreases IL-6 levels. In animal models, fluticasone upregulates Smad7 and downregulates phospho-Smad2/3 and TGF-β1 levels, preventing eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodeling.