Downmodulatory effects of the antihistaminic drug bepotastine on cytokine/chemokine production and CD54 expression in human keratinocytes.

Bepotastine besilate is an antihistaminic drug of the second generation with superior clinical responses. In this study, we investigated whether bepotastine modulates the production of cytokines/chemokines and the expression of CD54 in human epidermal keratinocytes. The production of IL-1alpha, CXCL10, and CCL17 and the expression of CD54 were significantly suppressed by the addition of bepotastine. Bepotastine exerts its antiallergic action on keratinocytes by suppressing the production of certain proinflammatory cytokines, both Th1 and Th2 chemokines, and possibly by inhibiting the expression of CD54. Copyright 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.