RATIONALE: Peripheral blood monocytes are precursors to tissue macrophages that are important in allergic inflammatory and immunologic responses. Since monocytes activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) secrete inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-β, we investigated the effect of olopatadine and Patanol on the secretion of these inflammatory mediators from peripheral blood monocytes. METHODS: Peripheral blood monocytes were isolated by adherence method and cultured in the presence of LPS (1 mcg/ml) with or without Patanol or olopatadine at various dose concentrations. After 24 hours in culture, IL-1β and TNF-α were quantified in the supernatants by solid phase sandwich enzyme linked-immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). RESULTS: TNF-α secretion was significantly increased in LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes (n=5; p=0.0007). This TNF-α secretion was significantly reduced by 67% in the presence of 100 mcg/ml of olopatadine (n=5; p=0.02). Patanol also decreased TNF-α secretion in a dose dependent manner in LPS-activated monocytes. In addition, IL-1β secretion was significantly increased in LPS-activated peripheral blood monocytes (n=3; p=0.014), and this effect was significantly reduced by 77% in olopatadine treated cultures (n=3; p=0.01). Similar findings were also observed in LPS-activated monocytes treated with Patanol. CONCLUSIONS: Olopatadine and Patanol have an effect on monocyte production of TNF-α and IL-1β secretion which may have clinical application for the treatment of the allergic inflammatory responses.