title: Defective inhibition by dexamethasone of leukotriene B4 and C4 production by leukocytes in patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: To investigate the effects of glucocorticoids on leukotriene (LT) generation in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF), we evaluated calcium ionophore A23187-induced LTB4 and LTC4 production by leukocytes with and without pretreatment with dexamethasone. The CF patients were in good condition and did not have acute infection. There were no significant differences in LTB4 and LTC4 production without dexamethasone pretreatment between the CF patients and controls. However, the ratios of LTB4 and LTC4 production by leukocytes preincubated with dexamethasone to those of leukocytes without dexamethasone pretreatment were significantly higher in the CF patients than in the controls (both p < 0.05). Our data suggest that the response of LTB4 and LTC4 production to dexamethasone is disturbed in patients with CF. The generation of LTs may be enhanced due to a disturbance in glucocorticoid suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Hansson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strandvik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000097:blood*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D007975:Leukotriene B4; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D000001:Calcimycin; D003907:Dexamethasone