Effect of prednisone on woodsmoke-induced sputum inflammation in healthy volunteers: A randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study

Background: Inhalation of biomass smoke is associated with adverse respiratory effects in those with chronic pulmonary conditions. There are few published data regarding the effects of anti-inflammatory interventions on these outcomes. Objective: Our aim was to assess the effects of postexposure prednisone on woodsmoke (WS)-induced sputum neutrophilia. Methods: for 2 hours) in healthy adults who had been identified in a separate screening protocol as being "PMN responsive" to WS. Secondary end points were sputum cytokine level and mucociliary clearance as measured by γ-scintigraphy. Results: = .05). Prednisone had no significant effects on sputum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, or TNF-α. WS exposure tended to reduce mucociliary clearance in the placebo arm but not in the prednisone arm. Conclusions: Prednisone taken immediately after exposure to WS mitigated short-term increase in sputum %PMN among healthy volunteers selected for their underlying inflammatory responsiveness to WS. Our data support future studies assessing anti-inflammatory interventions and the role of mucus clearance in WS-induced respiratory health effects.