Huang M.-T.YAO-HSU YANGYU-TSAN LINLu M.-Y.Wang L.-H.Tsai M.-J.BOR-LUEN CHIANG2020-12-182020-12-1820010905-6157https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034745785&doi=10.1034%2fj.1399-3038.2001.012001017.x&partnerID=40&md5=3ff16401513efe2880e88fae3250b94dhttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/527314Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction caused by edematous airway lining, thickened mucosal secretions, and smooth muscle constriction. β2-adrenoceptor agonists are widely used in the treatment of bronchial asthma because of their ability to induce relaxation of airway smooth muscle. Evidence indicates that desensitization and down-regulation of β-adrenoceptors occurs in long-term β2-agonist therapy; and these medications were thought to cause increased severity of, and mortality in, asthma. The purpose of this study was to delineate further the potential adverse effects of β2-agonists on the development of T lymphocytes. T cells isolated from umbilical cord blood and adult peripheral blood were cultured in the presence of salbutamol. Intracellular staining with fluorescence-labeled antibodies was used to differentiate the frequency of type 1 T-helper (Th1) and type 2 T-helper (Th2) cells. The results showed a statistically significant inverse relationship between the concentration of salbutamol and the ratio of Th1 over Th2 on cord blood T cells. However, this trend was not observed in adult peripheral blood T cells. The data revealed another potential adverse effect in which chronic β2-agonist exposure predisposed differentiation of T lymphocytes towards Th2 while that of Th 1 was relatively suppressed, especially in cord blood T cells. Hence, β2-agonists, despite their effect in symptomatic rescue in asthma, should not be used indiscriminately as long-term therapeutic agents.[SDGs]SDG3beta 2 adrenergic receptor stimulating agent; salbutamol; beta adrenergic receptor stimulating agent; phytohemagglutinin; salbutamol; article; asthma; bronchus muscle; cell culture; cell differentiation; cell maturation; cell proliferation; controlled study; desensitization; disease predisposition; disease severity; human; human cell; inflammation; priority journal; receptor down regulation; T lymphocyte; T lymphocyte subpopulation; Th1 cell; Th2 cell; umbilical cord blood; adult; asthma; cell division; cytology; drug effect; drug potentiation; female; fetus blood; immunization; immunology; male; monocyte; pregnancy; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Adult; Albuterol; Asthma; Cell Division; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Immunization; Male; Monocytes; Phytohemagglutinins; Pregnancy; T-Lymphocytes; Th1 Cells; Th2 Cellsjournal article10.1034/j.1399-3038.2001.012001017.x112518602-s2.0-0034745785