Flunisolide

Flunisolide (marketed as AeroBid, Nasalide, Nasarel) is a corticosteroid often prescribed as treatment for allergic rhinitis. The principle mechanism of action of flunisolide is to activate glucocorticoid receptors. It also has anti-inflammatory action.(In Vitro):Flunisolide (0.1-10 μM, 1 h) inhibits lung fibroblast (Isolated from lung) activation.Flunisolide (10 μM, 24 h) reduces MMP-9, TIMP-1, TGF-β and fibronectin release by sputum cells (isolated from mild to moderate asthmatics), and induces sputum eosinophil apoptosis.Flunisolide (0.1-10 μM μM, 24 h) effectively inhibits ICAM-1 expression and GM-CSF and IL-5 release induced by TNF-alpha in BEAS-2B cells.Flunisolide (115 μM, 0-3 h) can be transported in a polarized way in the apical (ap) to basolateral (bl) direction in Calu-3 cells and is demonstrated to be ATP-dependent.(In Vivo):Flunisolide (Intranasal administration, 0.3–10 μg/mouse, daily, from days 21-27) inhibits lung inflammation, fibrosis, and airway hyper-reactivity, also improves clearance of silica particles from the lungs in silicotic mice.Flunisolide (Intranasal administration, 0.3–10 μg/mouse, daily, from days 21-27) inhibits silica-induced macrophage and myofibroblast accumulation in the lung tissue.