Fig. 2

Aclidinium bromide shows anti-inflammatory properties in human neutrophils. Concentration-dependent inhibition of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or b cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced cytokines or MMP-9 release by aclidinium bromide (Acl), fluticasone propionate (Flu), salmeterol (Salm) or formoterol (Form) from a peripheral blood and b sputum neutrophils of healthy controls and COPD patients. Neutrophils were preincubated with Acl (0.1 nM–1 μM), Flu (0.1 nM–1 μM), Salm (0.1 nM–1 μM) or Form (0.01–100 nM) for 1 h followed by cell stimulation with LPS (1 μg/ml) or CSE (5 %) for 6 h. The results are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 4 each for cells from healthy controls and COPD patients in independent experiments with triplicate samples). A two-way ANOVA was followed by a post hoc Bonferroni test. *p < 0.05 vs. cells from COPD patients; #p < 0.05 vs. basal values