RHC 3024: antiallergic activity in vitro and comparison with disodium cromoglycate and other antiallergic agents.

RHC 3024 has been investigated for its antiallergic activity in three in vitro models of anaphylaxis. We have also compared its activity profile in these models with that of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) and other antiallergic agents. As an inhibitor of antigen-induced release of histamine from rat mast cells RHC 3024 was 4 times more potent than DSCG. In the same model the activity profile of RHC 3024 was identical to that of DSCG in the following respects: loss of inhibitory activity with increasing preincubation time, reversibility of the inhibition, tachyphylaxis and cross-tachyphylaxis to each other and inability to inhibit histamine release stimulated by Ca++ ionophore, dextran/phosphatidyl serine and compound 48/80. Both drugs had no effect in the other two models, IgG1-mediated histamine release from guinea pig lung and anti-IgE-induced histamine release from human basophils. We conclude: (1) RHC 3024 is a potent inhibitor of mediator release with a mechanism of action similar to that of DSCG, M&B 22,948, PRD-92-Ea and AH-7725 and (2) the in vitro activity profiles of proxicromil, doxantrazole, ICI 74,917 and WY-16,922 are different from DSCG and RHC 3024.