Leukotrienes C 4 and D 4 increase the ciliary beat frequency in human upper airway mucosa in vitro

Abstract

It has been suggested that leukotrienes C 4 (LTC 4 ) and D 4 (LTD 4 ) released from upper respiratory mucosa influence mucociliary transport during allergic reactions. We studied the in vitro effects of leukotrienes C 4 and D 4 on the ciliary beat frequency (CBF) of human adenoid explants over a 5-hour period. Tissue explants were cultured at 35° C in Minimum Essential Medium Eagle (MEM). The CBF was measured using phase contrast microscopy and microphotometry. Measurements of CBF were recorded in medium alone and in medium containing LTC 4 or LTD 4 at concentrations of 10 -8 and 10 -6 M. LTC 4 and LTD 4 increased CBF at concentrations of 10 -8 and 10 -6 M with increases of 20.51% ± 2.69% and 29.84% ± 4.06%, respectively. To determine the specificity of the LTC 4 and LTD 4 effects, the ciliated epithelium was treated with the specific leukotriene receptor antagonist LY-171,883 before administration of LTC 4 and LTD 4 . LY-171,883 (10 -6 M) significantly inhibited the ciliostimulatory effects of both leukotrienes. Our findings indicate that LTC 4 and LTD 4 increase CBF in vitro by activation of the LTD 4 receptor. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1998;118:472-7.)