Rectal roflumilast improves trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced chronic colitis in rats

Roflumilast, a highly selective oral phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. Oral roflumilast causes gastrointestinal side effects, especially vomiting, which could be reduced by administering roflumilast via off-label routes. Inhaled roflumilast reportedly improved inflammatory and histopathological changes in asthmatic mice. The current study investigated the effects of oral and rectal roflumilast on trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced chronic colitis in rats, an experimental model resembling human Crohn's disease. Five groups of rats (n=8) were used: normal control, TNBS-induced colitis, and three TNBS-treated colitic groups, which received oral sulfasalazine (500 mg·kg-1·day-1), oral roflumilast (5 mg·kg-1·day-1), or rectal roflumilast (5 mg·kg-1·day-1) for 15 days after colitis induction. Then, the following were assessed: the colitis activity score, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-2, and IL-6 serum levels, colonic length, and myeloperoxidase, malonaldehyde, and glutathione levels. Histological examinations employed H&E, Masson trichrome, and PAS stains in addition to immunostaining for KI-67 and TNF-α. The TNBS-induced colitis rats showed significant increases in disease activity scores, serum TNF-α, IL-2, and IL-6 levels, and colonic myeloperoxidase and malonaldehyde content. They also showed significant decreases in colonic length and glutathione levels in addition to histopathological and immunohistochemical changes. All the treatments significantly improved all these changes. Sulfasalazine provided the greatest improvement, followed by oral roflumilast, and then rectal roflumilast. In conclusion, both oral and rectal roflumilast partially improved TNBS-induced chronic colitis, suggesting the potential of roflumilast as an additional treatment for Crohn's disease.

Advances in studies of cognition enhancement by phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor roflumilast / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

Roflumilast, one of the second generation of phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors, has been approved for the treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by the United States Food and Drug Administration since 2011. It has shown a variety of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-alcoholic, and anti-diabetic profiles. Recent studies have demonstrated that roflumilast, like other PDE4 inhibitors, has neuroprotective and precognitive properties. It also has been shown to produce promising cognitive improvement in animals and humans. Therefore, roflumilast can be a potential drug for treatment of various degenerative diseases of the central nervous system, including Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. The major mechanism is the activation of cyclic AMP signaling and its downstream targeting molecules. All these are discussed and summarized in the current review.

Effects of Roflumilast on Lung Function of Asian Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ：a Meta-analysis / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To systematically evaluate the effects of roflumilast on lung function of Asian patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD）， and to provide evidence-based reference for rational drug use in the clinic. METHODS： Retrieved from Cochrane library， PubMed， Embase， CBM， CNKI， VIP and Wanfang database， RCTs about roflumilast or roflumilast combined with routine treatment or placebo （trial group） versus routine treatment or placebo （control group） in the treatment of Asian COPD patients were collected. After literature screening， data extraction and quality evaluation with Cochrane bias risk evaluation tool， Meta-analysis was conducted by using Rev Man 5.2 software. RESULTS： Totally 6 RCTs were included， involving 1 494 patients. Meta-analysis showed that pre-bronchodilator FEV1 （pre-FEV1） [MD＝75.19， 95％CI（53.21， 97.17）， P＜0.000 01]， post-bronchodilator FEV1 （post-FEV1） [MD＝56.60， 95％CI（27.56， 85.63）， P＝0.000 1]， forced vital capacity （FVC） [MD＝43.67， 95％CI （15.91，71.43）， P＝0.002]， average flow rate of post-bronchodilator 25％-75％ of forced vital capacity （post-FEF25％-75％） [MD＝14.58， 95％CI （8.43， 20.73）， P＜0.001]， the incidence of diarrhea [RR＝5.06， 95％CI （1.26，20.27）， P＝0.02]， respiratory infection [RR＝1.94， 95％CI （1.30，2.90）， P＝0.001]， decreased appetite [RR＝7.43， 95％CI （2.94，18.79）， P＝0.001]， body weight decrease [RR＝5.46， 95％CI （2.12，14.03）， P＝0.001]， headache [RR＝7.73， 95％CI （1.42，42.16）， P＝0.02]， dizziness [RR＝3.44， 95％CI （1.28，9.27）， P＝0.01]， gastritis [RR＝5.09， 95％CI （1.49， 17.45）， P＝0.01] and anorexia [RR＝5.06， 95％CI （1.97， 13.00）， P＝0.001] in trial group were significantly higher than control group； St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire （SGRQ） total score [MD＝－5.82， 95％CI（－7.77， －3.87）， P＜0.001]， respiratory symptom score [MD＝－1.67， 95％CI （－2.51，  －0.84）， P＜0.001]， activity limited score [MD＝－1.55，   95％CI （－2.14， －0.97）， P＜0.001] and disease impact score [MD＝－2.59， 95％CI （－3.40，－1.79）， P＜0.001] of trial group were significantly lower than those of control group. CONCLUSIONS： Roflumilast can improve lung function and dyspnea in Asian COPD patients， but it can increase the risk of ADR.

Incidence of Adverse Effects and Discontinuation Rate between Patients Receiving 250 Micrograms and 500 Micrograms of Roflumilast: A Comparative Study / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Roflumilast is the only approved oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor for the treatment of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients with chronic bronchitis and a history of frequent exacerbations. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of adverse effects associated with roflumilast treatment in a real-world setting. Further, we compared the incidence of adverse effects and the discontinuation rate among patients receiving different doses. METHODS: We identified all outpatients diagnosed with COPD at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between May 2011 and September 2016 and retrospectively reviewed their medical records. Roflumilast was prescribed to patients in doses of 500 µg and 250 µg. RESULTS: A total of 269 COPD patients were prescribed roflumilast in our hospital during the study period. Among them, 178 patients were treated with 500 µg and 91 patients were treated with 250 µg. The incidence of adverse effects was 38.2% in the 500 µg group and 25.3% in the 250 µg group (p=0.034). The discontinuation rate of roflumilast was 41.6% (n=74) in the 500 µg group and 23.1% (n=21) in the 250 µg group (p=0.003). When adjusted by age, sex, smoking status, and lung function, 500 µg dose was significantly associated with the discontinuation of roflumilast (odds ratio, 2.87; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: There was a lower incidence of adverse effects and discontinuation among patients treated with 250 µg compared with 500 µg dose. Further studies regarding the optimal dose of roflumilast are required.

The Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitor Roflumilast Protects against Cigarette Smoke Extract-Induced Mitophagy-Dependent Cell Death in Epithelial Cells / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Recent studies show that mitophagy, the autophagy-dependent turnover of mitochondria, mediates pulmonary epithelial cell death in response to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) exposure and contributes to the development of emphysema in vivo during chronic cigarette smoke (CS) exposure, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS: In this study, we investigated the role of mitophagy in the regulation of CSE-exposed lung bronchial epithelial cell (Beas-2B) death. We also investigated the role of a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, roflumilast, in CSE-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death. RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that CSE induces mitophagy in Beas-2B cells through mitochondrial dysfunction and increased the expression levels of the mitophagy regulator protein, PTEN-induced putative kinase-1 (PINK1), and the mitochondrial fission protein, dynamin-1-like protein (DRP1). CSE-induced epithelial cell death was significantly increased in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE but was decreased by small interfering RNA-dependent knockdown of DRP1. Treatment with roflumilast in Beas-2B cells inhibited CSE-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy by inhibiting the expression of phospho-DRP1 and -PINK1. Roflumilast protected against cell death and increased cell viability, as determined by the lactate dehydrogenase release test and the MTT assay, respectively, in Beas-2B cells exposed to CSE. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that roflumilast plays a protective role in CS-induced mitophagy-dependent cell death.

Efficacy and Safety of Roflumilast in Korean Patients with COPD

PURPOSE: Roflumilast is the only oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor approved to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients [post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) <50% predicted] with chronic bronchitis and a history of frequent exacerbations. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of roflumilast in Korean patients with COPD and compared the efficacy based on the severity of airflow limitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A post-hoc subgroup analysis was performed in Korean COPD patients participating in JADE, a 12-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase III trial in Asia. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean [least-squares mean adjusted for covariates (LSMean)] change in post-bronchodilator FEV1 from baseline to each post-randomization visit. Safety endpoints included adverse events (AEs) and changes in laboratory values, vital signs, and electrocardiograms. RESULTS: A total of 260 Korean COPD patients were recruited, of which 207 were randomized to roflumilast (n=102) or placebo (n=105) treatment. After 12 weeks, LSMean post-bronchodilator FEV1 increased by 43 mL for patients receiving roflumilast and decreased by 60 mL for those taking placebo. Adverse events were more common in the roflumilast group than in the placebo group; however, the types and frequency of AEs were comparable to those reported in previous studies. CONCLUSION: Roflumilast significantly improved lung function with a tolerable safety profile in Korean COPD patients irrespective of the severity of airflow limitation.

Roflumilast therapy in COPD − Update and Trials

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) represents an important public health challenge that is both preventable and treatable. Pharmacological treatment regimen for COPD needs to be patient specific. Hence  management of  COPD    should  be  based  on  strategy  considering  both  disease  impact  and  future  risk  of  disease  progression ( especially of  exacerbation ). Risk of exacerbations significantly increases in GOLD 3 and GOLD 4 COPD. Exacerbations  increase  the   decline in  lung function , deteorriation  in  health  status  and  risk   of  death. Roflumilast   is   a   phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitor. It reduces   risk of moderate to severe   exacerbations in patients   of   GOLD 3   & GOLD 4   COPD. It  has  no  direct  bronchodilator  activity, although it  has  been  shown  to  improve  FEV1  in  patients treated  with   inhaled  long-acting  bronchodilator. Adverse  effects  may occur  early during the  treatment  but  these  are  reversible  and  diminish  overtime  with  continued  treatment .

Roflumilast Attenuates MUC5AC and MUC5B Expression in Airway Epithelial Cells / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Roflumilast, a selective inhibitor of phosphodiesterase type 4, has an anti-inflammatory property. It has been used in the treatment of chronic inflammatory airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. However, the effect of roflumilast on mucus secretion in inflammatory airway epithelial cells has not been reported. Therefore, this study was aimed at investigating the effects of roflumilast on the inflammatory mediator-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B expression in human airway epithelial cells. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In human mucin-producing NCI-H292 airway epithelial cells and primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells, the effects of roflumilast on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and phorbl-12-myrsitate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B expression were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Roflumilast attenuated LPS-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and glycoprotein expression in NCI-H292 cells. And roflumilast attenuated PMA-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and glycoprotein expression in NCI-H292 cells. In addition, roflumilast attenuated LPS and PMA-induced MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA expression in the primary cultures of nasal epithelial cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that roflumilast attenuates MUC5AC and MUC5B expressions in airway epithelial cells. Roflumilast may be a potentially ideal therapeutic agent for the control of mucus-hypersecretion in treating chronic inflammatory airway diseases.

Pharmacovigilance Analysis of Adverse Psychiatric Events and Suicidality Reported for Roflumilast, an Add-On COPD Therapy.

Aims: Roflumilast is a phosphodiesterase-4-inhibitor used as add-on therapy to longacting bronchodilators in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Although roflumilast is well tolerated, there have been concerns regarding psychiatric problems, including suicide tendencies. This study aims to identify and characterize signals of adverse psychiatric events reported for roflumilast in the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Study Design: Retrospective pharmacovigilance analysis. Place and Duration of Study: Adverse event reports submitted to FAERS from October 1997 through September 2012. Methodology: Multi-item Gamma Poisson Shrinker data-mining algorithm was applied to adverse psychiatric events (APE) that were submitted to the FAERS (3Q1997-3Q2012). Empirical Bayes Geometric Mean (EBGM) and 95% confidence interval (EB05-EB95) were calculated for roflumilast-associated APE compared to all drugs in FAERS. The following Preferred Terms of the MedDRA terminology were used to define the outcome of interest: “anxiety”, “depressed mood”, “depression”, “insomnia”, “suicide attempt”, and “suicidal ideation”. Signals with EB05>2 are considered significant disproportional reporting (>twice that expected) of APE. Results:126 reports of APE were identified for roflumilast, corresponding to mutually nonexclusive events of insomnia (n=53), anxiety (n=38), depression (n=36), suicidal ideation (n=30), depressed mood (n=8), and suicide attempt (n=6). EBGM (EB05-EB95) were: APE, 3.55 (3.06-4.11); insomnia, 4.55 (3.62-5.66); anxiety, 2.96 (2.26-3.82); depression, 2.88 (2.19-3.75); suicidal ideation, 5.65 (4.16-7.52); depressed mood, 3.90 (2.20-6.53); and suicide attempt, 1.66 (0.86-2.95). Conclusion: Roflumilast is associated with higher than expected reporting of APE, including suicidal thoughts, but not suicide attempts. Given the inherent confounding and bias limitations of spontaneous reporting systems, pharmacoepidemiologic studies are required to test these hypotheses; meanwhile, prescribers should consider alternative add-on therapies to patients with past or present depression or suicidality.