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Anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids and cyclosporin A on human basophils

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Summary

Pro-inflammatory and vasoactive mediators released from human basophils and mast cells play a role in several inflammatory and immune disorders. It was recently demonstrated that cyclosporin A (CsA) exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of preformed and de novo synthesized mediators from human basophils [1]. This study compared the effects of pharmacological concentrations of deflazacort (DFZ) and prednisolone (PRED) on the anti-IgE-mediated release of preformed (histamine) and de novo synthesized (leukotriene C4: [LTC4]) mediators from basophils. Basophils were cultured for 18 hours in the presence of pharmacological concentrations of DFZ (10−8 to 3 × 10−6 M). DFZ inhibited the anti-IgE-mediated release of histamine and LTC4 from basophils in a concentration-dependent manner (6–40 %), and had a similar efficacy and potency to PRED. The effect of DFZ (10−8 to 10−8 M) in combination with CsA on the immunological release of histamine and LTC4 from basophils was also evaluated. An 18-hour incubation of basophils with DFZ (10−8 M) followed by a short (15-minute) incubation with CsA (30 ng/ml) resulted in an additive inhibition of the release of histamine and LTC4. The additive anti-inflammatory effect of these drugs makes them interesting candidates for future controlled clinical trials in inflammatory diseases in which basophil-derived mediators play a relevant role.

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Marone, G., Stellato, C., Renda, A. et al. Anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids and cyclosporin A on human basophils. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 45 (Suppl 1), S17–S20 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01844198

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