Leukotriene B4 level in stimulated blood neutrophils and alveolar macrophages from healthy and asthmatic subjects. Effect of beta-2 agonist therapy

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Abstract
Leukotriene B4 levels were measured after stimulation by calcium ionophore A23187: (i) in peripheral neutrophils (PMN) from allergic asthmatics, rhinitis and healthy subjects; (ii) in macrophages collected by bronchoalveolar lavage. LTB4 levels in PMNs were significantly higher in non‐treated allergic asthmatics and non‐treated subjects with rhinitis compared to controls. Beta‐2 agonist‐treated asthmatics showed a significantly decreased LTB4 production which was not different from those of controls. In vitro, LTB4 production decreased significantly after PMN incubation with Salbutamol (10‐6 mo11‐1). LTB4 produced by AM collected by BAL was measured in non‐treated (n = 5) and treated (n= 11) asthmatics with inhaled beta‐2 agonist. AM collected from all controls and non‐treated asthmatics produced LTB4. By contrast, no production of LTB4 was observed in the treated group. LTB4 production decreased when normal AM were incubated in vitro with Salbutamol (10‐8 mol 1‐1). These results suggest that biochemical differences occur in PMN and macrophages from subjects treated with beta‐2 agonist, presumably in changing the 5‐lipoxygenase pathway.