Effect of Drugs Used in the Treatment of Asthma on the Production of Eosinophil-Activating Factor by Monocytes

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Abstract
The cytotoxic activity of eosinophils, as measured by their ability to kill antibody-coated schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni, is enhanced by a factor (eosinophil-activating factor, EAF) which is secreted by peripheral blood monocytes from certain moderately eosinophilic individuals. The secretion of this factor by monocytes is inhibited by methylprednisolone (1 μg/ml), beclomethasone (10 μg/ml) and theophylline (100 μg/ml), but not by sodium cromoglycate or salbutamol. Methylprednisolone, beclomethasone and theophylline do not inhibit either eosinophil cytotoxic activity or enhancement of eosinophil cytotoxic activity by EAF at these concentrations.