Inhibition of interferon-gamma production from lymphocytes stimulated with food antigens by a beta 2-agonist, procaterol, in patients with food-sensitive atopic dermatitis.

Procaterol hydrochloride is a relatively new beta 2-selective agonist with a unique carbostyril nucleus. In this study, procaterol dose-dependently inhibited IFN-gamma production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with ovalbumin in patients with hen's egg-sensitive atopic dermatitis, without inhibition of proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results suggest that procaterol also has an effect as an immunomodulator, in addition to its effect as a beta 2-selective agonist.