[Enhanced generation of leukotriene B4 by neutrophils stimulated by calcium ionophore A23187 after adding prostaglandins].

To investigate the interaction of arachidonic acid metabolites, we examined the production of LTB4 in neutrophils after stimulation with PGE2, PGF2 alpha and TXB2. The subjects were 23 asthmatic patients (atopic: 11, non-atopic: 12), 7 non-asthmatic atopic patients and 5 healthy controls. The production of LTB4 in neutrophils induced by calcium ionophore A23187 significantly increased in the asthmatic and non-asthmatic atopic patients. Healthy controls showed no significant increase in production of LTB4. The optimal levels of TXB2, PGF2 alpha, and PGE2 for LTB4 production were 10 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml and 0.1 ng/ml, respectively. When no TXB2, PGF2 alpha and PGE2 were added, LTB4 production tended to be greater in the asthmatics and non-asthmatic atopic patients than in the controls. By the addition of 10 ng/ml of TXB2, 10 ng/ml of PGF2 alpha, or 0.1 ng/ml PGE2, production of LTB4 by calcium ionophore A23187 stimulation was significantly increased in the asthmatics, and there was no such trend in the non-asthmatic group. These results suggest that LTB4 production from neutrophils may be enhanced by TXB2, PGF2 alpha and PGE2.