Budesonide reduced stone dust and cigarette smoke-induced interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 production.

Inhalation of respirable silica dust particles penetrates the lung causing lung damage which manifests as inflammation and scarring. A resurgence of accelerated silicosis cases has arisen within recent years, which was mainly thought to have been due to the popularity of engineered stone products. It is known that construction and mining workers have higher rates of smoking compared to the general population. Damage of the airways from long-term cigarette smoke may cause smokers to be more susceptible to adverse health effects from exposure to silica dust. Budesonide is a corticosteroid used in the treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Budesonide is shown to reduce respiratory symptoms such as inflammation, however not shown in silicosis. MRC5/A549 and MRC-5/THP-1 co-culture models were stimulated with stone dust and tobacco cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Co-culture models were then treated with budesonide. An ELISA was performed to quantify interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) production. As can be seen in the figures below, treatment with budesonide suppressed stone dust-induced or cigarette smoke-induced IL-8 and IL-6 in MRC-5/A549 co-cultures and MRC-5/THP-1 co-cultures. Budesonide has been shown to reduce stone dust and cigarette smoke extract-induced interleukin 6 and 8. This suggests that Budesonide may be an alternative treatment therapy for silicosis.