Corticosteroid-resistant chronic asthma and monocyte complement receptors.

Monocyte complement receptors (MCR) and enhancement of MCR by a monocyte chemotactic factor (casein) (CRE) were measured in corticosteroid-resistant and corticosteroid-responsive chronic asthmatics. In newly-diagnosed patients who subsequently responded to corticosteroids, the percentage of MCR and CRE was lower after taking oral prednisolone for 7 days and returned to pretreatment values when prednisolone was withdrawn. MCR and CRE in corticosteroid-responsive asthmatics receiving prednisolone were significantly lower than in corticosteroid-resistant asthmatics taking prednisolone. However, there was no significant difference in MCR and CRE between non-responders taking prednisolone and non-responders receiving other forms of therapy. These results suggest that one of the effects of systemic corticosteroids in asthmatics who respond to this form of treatment is a decrease in both MCR and the degree of CRE. Since these changes were not found in corticosteroid-resistant chronic asthmatics such patients may have a defect in the expression and mobilization of complement receptors on the monocyte cell membrane.