Effect of levamisole on lysosomal enzyme release from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP after phagocytosis of monosodium urate crystals.

In order to study the influence of levamisole on lysosomal enzyme release, human polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes were incubated with 0.5 mg/ml monosodium urate crystals. The release of neutral proteinase, beta glucuronidase, myeloperoxidase and lactic dehydrogenase as cytoplasmatic marker was measured. Preincubation of PMN with various concentrations of levamisole lasting 1 h resulted in a decrease of all enzymes released. Intracellular levels of both cyclic nucleotides--cAMP and cGMP--rose in PMN preincubated with levamisole, in comparison with untreated cells.