Inhibitory effects of pemirolast potassium and FK506 on degranulation and IL-8 production of eosinophils

Abstract

Eosinophils are the key effector cells for allergic inflammation. In order to clarify drugs which can regulate eosinophil function, we investigated the direct effect of pemirolast potassium (anti-allergic drug) and FK506 (immunosupressant) on eosinophil degranulation and cytokine production. Eosinophil degranulation induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor and/or platelet activating factor was inhibited from 10-4 to 10-6 mol/L pemirolast (inhibitory effect 66 and 33%, respectively) and 10-8 mol/L FK506 (inhibitory effect 45%). Pemirolast and FK506 also inhibit interleukin (IL)-8 production by eosinophil. Our data suggest that both pemirolast potassium and FK506 possess direct regulatory effects on human eosinophils and a potential to suppress allergic inflammation.

Keywords

• anti-allergic drug
• cytokine
• eosinophil
• degranulation