Concentration-Dependent Noncysteinyl Leukotriene Type 1 Receptor-Mediated Inhibitory Activity of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists

Abstract

The use of cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) for asthma therapy has been associated with a significant degree of interpatient variability in response to treatment. Some of that variability may be attributable to noncysteinyl leukotriene type 1 receptor (CysLT1)-mediated inhibitory mechanisms that have been demonstrated for this group of drugs. We used a model of CysLT1 signaling in human monocytes to characterize CysLT1-dependent and -independent anti-inflammatory activity of two chemically different, clinically relevant LTRAs (montelukast and zafirlukast). Using receptor-desensitization experiments in monocytes and CysLT1-transfected HEK293 cells and IL-10– and CysLT1 small interfering RNA-induced downregulation of CysLT1 expression, we showed that reported CysLT1 agonists leukotriene D4 and UDP signal through calcium mobilization, acting on separate receptors, and that both pathways were inhibited by montelukast and zafirlukast. However, 3-log greater concentrations of LTRAs were required for the inhibition of UDP-induced signaling. In monocytes, UDP, but not leukotriene D4, induced IL-8 production that was significantly inhibited by both drugs at micromolar concentrations. At low micromolar concentrations, both LTRAs also inhibited calcium ionophore-induced leukotriene (leukotriene B4 and leukotriene C4) production, indicating 5-lipoxygenase inhibitory activities. We report herein that montelukast and zafirlukast, acting in a concentration-dependent manner, can inhibit non–CysLT1-mediated proinflammatory reactions, suggesting activities potentially relevant for interpatient variability in response to treatment. Higher doses of currently known LTRAs or new compounds derived from this class of drugs may represent a new strategy for finding more efficient therapy for bronchial asthma.