MODULATION OF IGE PRODUCTION IN THE MOUSE BY BETA(2)-ADRENOCEPTOR AGONIST

The present study examined the in vitro and in vivo effect of salbutam ol on IgE production in the mouse. The present results show that salbu tamol potentiates the in vitro interleukin 4 (IL-4)-induced IgE produc tion from lipopolysaccharide-activated murine B lymphocytes. This effe ct is dose-dependent and is observed at concentrations above 10 nM. In vivo, when ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized BALB/c mice were treated with a daily injection of salbutamol, an increase of the anti-GA IgE levels i n the serum was observed as compared to sensitized animals. Such an ef fect was observed at doses above 1 mu g/kg and was maximal at 10 mu g/ kg. Treatment of sensitized mice with salbutamol increased the ex vivo production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-10 from concanavalin A-activate d splenocytes whereas no modification of IFN-gamma synthetis was notic ed as compared to nontreated sensitized control mice. These results de monstrate that beta(2)-adrenoceptor agonist stimulation results in an increase in IgE production both in vitro and in vivo in the mice. At l east in vivo, they also suggest that the effect of this drug could be explained by an increase of the production of Th2-type lymphokines.