Immune modulator pidotimod decreases the in vitro expression of CD30 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of atopic asthmatic and normal children.

Recurrent viral infections are frequently observed in children with atopic asthma. In this study we investigated the ability of the synthetic immunomodulator pidotimod to affect in vitro the phenotype and/or cytokine profile of blood cells in relation to atopic asthma. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 13 atopic asthmatic and 9 normal children and stimulated in culture with mitogen either in the presence or not of the drug. Expression of surface markers was evaluated by flow cytometry, and production of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma was measured in supernatants. Pidotimod was able to down-regulate the expression of CD30 on cells from both atopic and normal subjects. Because CD30 has been associated with Th-2 cells, this observation supports the possibility of pidotimod being able to affect the Th-1/Th-2 balance in atopic asthma.