Granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factors (GM-CSF) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) production by human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) in asthmatics and controls. Lack of in vitro effect of salbutamol compared to sodium nedocromil.

The bronchial epithelium produces cytokines that could contribute to inflammatory events in airways. In this study we determined the basal and TNFalpha stimulated productions of GM-CSF and IL-8 by human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) collected from 12 control and six asthmatic patients. Spontaneous and TNFalpha-induced GM-CSF or IL-8 released levels increased significantly with time. Epithelial cells from asthmatic patients spontaneously released high levels of GM-CSF (24 h). TNFalpha potentiated GM-CSF and IL-8 release in control subjects and only the IL-8 production in asthmatics. Nedocromil sodium, an antiinflammatory drug, and salbutamol, a beta2-agonist, are commonly used in asthma. They were evaluated on the spontaneous and TNF-induced expression of GM-CSF and IL-8 in cultured bronchial epithelial cells. Nedocromil sodium, at the concentration of 10(-6) M, reduced the TNF-induced increase in GM-CSF but not the IL-8 release. Salbutamol, at the concentration of 10(-6) or 10(-5) M, did not affect the constitutive or stimulated production of both cytokines.