Action of ketotifen on different functions of neutrophil polymorphonuclear cells.

The results concerning the action of Ketotifen "in vitro" on the adherence, spontaneous and chemotactic mobility and phagocytosis of neutrophil polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) of the non-specific immunological system are presented. PMN cells were incubated for 30 min at 37 degrees C prior to the evaluation of different functions, with the following concentrations of Ketotifen: 1, 10 and 100 ng, and 1 and 10 micrograms/ml., final concentration. PMN cell adherence to glass spheres was unaffected by doses of the drug considered to have pharmacological action; however, a statistically significant enhancement was observed in this function from a concentration of 10 ng./ml. onwards. Mobility, both spontaneous and chemotactic was inhibited in the presence of Ketotifen only at high doses; the chemotactic function was more susceptible to the action of the drug at doses of 10 ng./ml. than spontaneous mobility, which required ten-fold greater concentrations for inhibition to take place. Likewise, the phagocytosis of C. albicans was inhibited by the presence of the drug at doses of 10 ng./ml. and higher. In conclusion, Ketotifen in PMN cells at pharmacological doses only induces a slight increase in adherence and a decrease in the functions of mobility and phagocytosis of C. albicans; at least "in vitro", much higher concentrations, which are not found with the doses usually employed, are required for these functions to be altered significantly.