Effect of ketotifen on human alveolar macrophages |
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Authors: | Y Kakuta T Kato H Sasaki T Takishima |
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Institution: | First Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan. |
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Abstract: | In order to examine the possibility of human alveolar macrophages being an effector site of an antiasthmatic drug, we studied the effect of ketotifen on chemiluminescence and Ca-activated K conductance at single channel level because they are associated with the activation of macrophages. Peak chemiluminescence response, induced by a single concentration of phorbol myristate acetate (0.5 micrograms/ml), was inhibited by 28 +/- 3, 51 +/- 8, and 76 +/- 7% by ketotifen concentrations of 0.02, 0.12, and 0.24 mmol/L, respectively. The inhibition of chemiluminescence by ketotifen concentrations of 0.12 and 0.24 mmol/L was also observed in macrophages stimulated with zymosan activated serum (54 +/- 7 and 80 +/- 6%, respectively). Moreover, ketotifen, 0.24 mmol/L, inhibited Ca-activated K channel currents by 44 +/- 7% (large currents) and 48 +/- 13% (small currents). These results may explain, at least partly, antiasthmatic effects of ketotifen. |
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