LCB 2183, an
anti-allergic and potential anti-
asthma compound, has been investigated for its ability to inhibit
contact sensitivity in the mouse. The delayed response to epicutaneous
hapten challenge in this model is a classical T-cell-mediated inflammatory reaction which is dependent on an early initiation phase. Both the early and late components of
oxazolone-induced
contact sensitivity were inhibited by
oral administration of
LCB 2183 in a dose-dependent manner. The
drug appears to act on the efferent limb of the response since administration before
hapten challenge was effective, while administration before the initial sensitization was not.
LCB 2183 acts early in the cascade of events leading to
inflammation, since the initiation phase of the response was inhibited; nonetheless, an effect of the
drug on the late acting inflammatory cells cannot be ruled out. In comparison with oral
prednisolone, which was also able to inhibit both the early and late components of the response,
LCB 2183 was less active.
Sodium cromoglycate and
nedocromil sodium, which are poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, were tested by intraperitoneal administration. Neither of these agents significantly altered the delayed response and only
nedocromil sodium had a limited inhibitory effect on the early initiation phase. Thus, in this model,
LCB 2183 demonstrated more anti-inflammatory potential and resembled
prednisolone more closely than either
nedocromil sodium or
sodium cromoglycate. The possible relevance of these effects in relation to the
inflammation which characterizes human
asthma is considered.