@Article{, title={Explanation of Theophylline site of action in cells of skin pathogenic fungi by inhibition cascade hypothesis}, author={AL-Janabi A. A.*}, journal={Karbala Journal of Medicine مجلة كربلاء الطبية}, volume={1 no.3}, number={2}, pages={248-251}, year={2007}, abstract={background: The mode of action of theophylline has been determined in mammalian cells by threemechanisms, CAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition, adenosine receptor antagonism and calciummobilization, but after determined its activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes, one ofDermatophytes fungi, therefore, it is needful to be known the effective site of action in the cells of fungi.Methods: Trichophyton mentagrophytes was cultured in Sabouraud’s glucose broth that contains 1, 3, and5 mg/ml of theophylline. Morphological changes were noted in the treated cells when stained with trypanblue using light microscopy in addition to the measurement of the electrical conductivity to the mediumwhich contains such cells.Result: Morphological changes were noted in Trichophyton mentagrophytes cells after incubation in amedia containing 3 mg/ml of theophylline. These changes included aggregation of protoplasmic materialsat the center of fungal cells (spores and hyphi). Plasma membrane permeability was not affected by thiscompound after measurements of electrical conductivity and staining by trypan blue stain.Inhibition cascade hypothesis, that it is proposed by the author, explained these morphological changesaccording to the supposed series of biochemical steps and depending on information of theophyllinebiochemical activities in fungal living cells.Conclusion: Inhibition cascade hypothesis tries to explain the site of action of theophylline by series ofbiochemical steps according to the information about its mechanism of activities in the mammalian cells.Plasma membrane is not affected by theophylline compound.

} }