EFFECTS OF NEDOCROMIL SODIUM ON THE OXIDATIVE BURST OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES - COMPARISON WITH SALBUTAMOL

The effects of nedocromil sodium and of salbutamol on the generation o f oxygen-derived free radicals in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes ( PMNs) were compared in vitro by the luminol-amplified-chemiluminescenc e (LACL) assay induced by both particulate (Candida albicans) and solu ble formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulants. Inhibitor y dose-effect linear regressions were observed from 10(-3) to 10(-8) M for nedocromil and salbutamol after a 3' period of incubation with ei ther C. albicans or fMLP. There was a linear regression with nedocromi l sodium after 30' incubation, but desensitization was observed with s albutamol after this longer period of incubation. The generation of ox ygen-derived free radicals was significantly greater for asthmatic pat ients than for normal subjects; therefore antiasthmatic drugs with thi s inhibitory activity could be an extra pharmacological benefit in the treatment of asthmatic patients.