Chemotactic mediators

Expression of adhesion molecules on granulocytes and monocytes from patients with asthma stimulated in vitro with interleukin-8 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1

Upregulation of adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells (EC) and circulating leukocytes, by locally produced inflammatory mediators, may result in the enhanced infiltration of leukocytes into tissue, e.g. the airways of asthma patients. The present study investigates whether the expression of adhesion molecules on granulocytes and monocytes from asthma patients is affected by chemotactic factors, i.e. interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Flow cytometric analysis showed that the intrinsic expression of the various adhesion molecules on peripheral blood phagocytes from asthma patients was not different from that of healthy individuals. However, stimulation of monocytes with MCP-1 resulted only in upregulation of the expression of CD14 on monocytes from symptomatic asthma patients but not on monocytes from asymptomatic asthma patients and healthy individuals. Stimulation of granulocytes with IL-8 did not change the expression of the various beta 1- and beta 2-integrin molecules, such as VLA-4, LFA-1, CR3 and p150,95. Since earlier studies have shown that CD14 on monocytes mediates monocyte adhesion to activated vascular EC the present findings suggest that during the active phase of asthma upregulation of CD14 on monocytes by MCP-1 may lead to an increased adhesion of monocytes to vascular endothelium and their subsequent transendothelial migration into the tissue of the airways.

Inhibition of neutrophil and eosinophil induced chemotaxis by nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate

1. Neutrophils and eosinophils infiltrate the airways in association with the allergen-induced late phase asthmatic reaction. Mobilization of these cells takes place via lipid-like and protein-like chemotactic factors. In this study platelet-activating factor (PAF), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), zymosan-activated serum (ZAS) and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) were used as illustrative examples of both groups. Chemotaxis was studied in human neutrophils and eosinophils. The inhibitory effects of nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were evaluated. 2. All chemotactic factors tested attracted neutrophils with the following rank order of activity: ZAS greater than PAF identical to FMLP identical to LTB4. Eosinophils were only mobilized by PAF, LTB4 and ZAS with the following rank order of activity: ZAS greater than PAF greater than LTB4. 3. Nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were equally active as the PAF antagonist BN 52021 in inhibiting the PAF-induced chemotaxis of neutrophils (IC50 approximately 10(-8) M). Both drugs were also equally active in inhibiting the chemotaxis of neutrophils induced by ZAS (IC50 approximately 10(-7)-10(-6) M), FMLP (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M) and LTB4 (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M). 4. Nedocromil sodium significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of eosinophils induced by PAF (IC50 approximately 10(-6) M) and LTB4 (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M). The inhibitory potency of BN 52021 was similar to that of nedocromil sodium on the PAF-induced chemotaxis of eosinophils. Sodium cromoglycate was incapable of eliciting significant inhibition of these chemotactic responses. However, sodium cromoglycate significantly inhibited the chemotaxis of eosinophils induced by ZAS (IC50 approximately 10(-7) M), whereas nedocromil sodium was ineffective.

Inhibition of platelet-activating factor- and zymosan-activated serum-induced chemotaxis of human neutrophils by nedocromil sodium, BN 52021 and sodium cromoglycate

1. Inflammatory cells such as eosinophils and neutrophils are thought to contribute actively to the pathogenesis of asthma since they infiltrate into the lung tissue. These cells are mobilized by lipid-like and protein-like chemotactic factors. As illustrative examples of both groups, platelet-activating-factor (Paf) and zymosan-activated-serum (ZAS) were used in this study. The inhibitory effects of nedocromil sodium, the Paf antagonist BN 52021 and sodium cromoglycate on Paf- and ZAS-induced neutrophil chemotaxis were evaluated. 2. All tested drugs inhibited Paf-induced neutrophil chemotaxis with approximately the same potency (IC50 approximately 1 nM). 3. Nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were equally potent in inhibiting ZAS-induced neutrophil chemotaxis (IC50 = 0.1-1 microM), whereas BN 52021 was considerably less potent (IC30 = 10 microM). 4. To find out whether the drugs tested could inhibit early events in cell activation, their capacity to inhibit Paf- and ZAS-induced cytosolic free Ca2+-mobilization was investigated. BN 52021, at a concentration of 100 microM, completely inhibited Paf-induced Ca2+-mobilization and inhibited ZAS-induced Ca2+-mobilization by about 50%. Nedocromil sodium and sodium cromoglycate were ineffective.