Effects of nedocromil sodium on the oxidative burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes: comparison with salbutamol

The effects of nedocromil sodium and of salbutamol on the generation of oxygen-derived free radicals in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were compared in vitro by the luminol-amplified-chemiluminescence (LACL) assay induced by both particulate (Candida albicans) and soluble formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) stimulants. Inhibitory dose-effect linear regressions were observed from 10(-3) to 10(-8) M for nedocromil and salbutamol after a 3' period of incubation with either C. albicans or fMLP. There was a linear regression with nedocromil sodium after 30' incubation, but desensitization was observed with salbutamol after this longer period of incubation. The generation of oxygen-derived free radicals was significantly greater for asthmatic patients than for normal subjects; therefore antiasthmatic drugs with this inhibitory activity could be an extra pharmacological benefit in the treatment of asthmatic patients.