{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T09:16:37Z","timestamp":1788254197489,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]],"date-time":"2026-08-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787875200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited"},{"id":[{"id":"https:\/\/ror.org\/05jqjhm27","id-type":"ROR","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Int. J. Mol. Sci.","IJMS"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as flurbiprofen and benzydamine may be used for the symptomatic relief of pharyngitis, triggered by infections. The onset and spectrum of anti-inflammatory activity of both drugs were compared in human tonsil (HTEpiC) and bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells stimulated with poly I:C against key inflammatory mediators. Cells were stimulated with poly I:C for 24\u2009h and treated with flurbiprofen or benzydamine for 20\u2009s, 2\u2009min and 5 min. Production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-\u03b1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1\u03b2), interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-18 (IL-18), monocyte chemotactic protein-3 (MCP-3) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10), as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression, was evaluated. Flurbiprofen significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced PGE2 production and COX-2 expression in both cell types within 20 s of treatment and maintained these effects at 2 and 5 min. However, benzydamine produced delayed, inconsistent inhibition. Although both drugs reduced poly I:C induced IL-6, IL-1\u03b2, IL-8 and IL-18 production, the magnitude and onset were greater with flurbiprofen. Flurbiprofen also reduced MCP-3 and CXCL10 in both cell types, alongside significant inhibition of caspase-1 activity. Benzydamine showed limited or no effect and less inhibition of caspase-1. With rapid suppression of the COX-2\/PGE2 pathway, rapid onset and a broad inhibition spectrum, flurbiprofen more comprehensively modulates inflammatory processes in epithelial respiratory models.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms27177705","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T08:31:13Z","timestamp":1788251473000},"page":"7705","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Comparative Effects of Flurbiprofen and Benzydamine on COX-2\/PGE2 and Inflammatory Cytokine Release in Polyinosinic:polycytidylic Acid-Stimulated Human Tonsil and Bronchial Epithelial Cells"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"27","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1163-7202","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Emmanuel","family":"Mfotie Njoya","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria","family":"Spears","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited, Dansom Lane, Hull HU8 7DS, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0004-5258-3022","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Thomas","family":"Hallett","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited, Dansom Lane, Hull HU8 7DS, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Philippa","family":"Peters","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited, Dansom Lane, Hull HU8 7DS, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Fiona","family":"Burke","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Reckitt Benckiser Health Limited, Dansom Lane, Hull HU8 7DS, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9254-8334","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Olumayokun A.","family":"Olajide","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pharmacy, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield HD1 3DH, UK"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","first-page":"832","article-title":"What are the most common conditions in primary care? 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