Original Articles: Brief Communication
A novel pharmacologic action of glucocorticosteroids on leukotriene C4 catabolism

https://doi.org/10.1067/mai.2001.116000Get rights and content

Abstract

Leukotriene (LT) C4, a potent chemical mediator in human bronchial asthma, is metabolized to less active LTE4 via LTD4 in 2 consecutive enzymatic reactions by γ-glutamyl transpeptidases and dipeptidases. We examined whether this inactivation process of LTC4 was affected by fluticasone propionate, beclomethasone dipropionate, disodium cromoglycate, and salbutamol sulfate in transformed human bronchial epithelial cells. Fluticasone propionate and beclomethasone dipropionate accelerated LTC4 catabolism by inducing activity of a LTC4-degrading enzyme, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase–related enzyme (γ-GTPRE), in transformed human bronchial epithelial cells. The activation of γ-GTPRE might be regulated transcriptionally. This is a novel regulatory mechanism by which glucocorticosteroids exert antiasthma activities. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2001;108:122-4.)

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