Leukotriene B4 level in stimulated blood neutrophils and alveolar macrophages from healthy and asthmatic subjects. Effect of beta-2 agonist therapy.

Leukotriene B4 levels were measured after stimulation by calcium ionophore A23187: (i) in peripheral, neutrophils (PMN) from allergic asthmatics, rhinitis and healthy subjects; (ii) in macrophages collected by bronchoalveolar lavage. LTB4 levels in PMNs were significantly higher in non-treated allergic asthmatics and non-treated subjects with rhinitis compared to controls. Beta-2 agonist-treated asthmatics showed a significantly decreased LTB4 production which was not different from those of controls. In vitro, LTB4 production decreased significantly after PMN incubation with Salbutamol (10(-6) mol l-1). LTB4 produced by AM collected by BAL was measured in non-treated (n = 5) and treated (n = 11) asthmatics with inhaled beta-2 agonist. AM collected from all controls and non-treated asthmatics produced LTB4. By contrast, no production of LTB4 was observed in the treated group. LTB4 production decreased when normal AM were incubated in vitro with Salbutamol (10(-8) mol l-1). These results suggest that biochemical differences occur in PMN and macrophages from subjects treated with beta-2 agonist, presumably in changing the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.