IN-VIVO EFFECT OF PREDNISOLONE ON RELEASE OF LEUKOTRIENE B4 FROM NEUTROPHILS FROM ASTHMATIC-PATIENTS

We examined the release of leukotriene B4 from calcium ionophore A2318 7-stimulated neutrophils from asthmatic patients treated with or witho ut intravenous prednisolone during an asthmatic attack. The mean level of LTB4 in the supernatant of stimulated neutrophils from patients tr eated with intravenous prednisolone was significantly lower than that in the supernatant of stimulated neutrophils from those without predni solone treatment. Preincubation with prednisolone caused a dose-depend ent inhibition of LTB4 release from calcium ionophore A23187-stimulate d neutrophils. These findings suggest that intravenous prednisolone in hibits the release of LTB4 from neutrophils in vivo. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.