Action of β-Agonists Compared to Cromoglycate on Mononuclear Cell Membranes: Stabilizing or Destabilizing? Guido Zimmer, Markus Bernho¨rster, Patrizius Pilz,

Nowadays, physicians are urged to treat inflammation in the airways and thereby reduce the bronchial hyperreactivity that is responsible for many of the symptoms of asthma. Numerous cell types play a role in mediating the inflammatory process. There are mast cells (1), neutrophils (2-4) as well as eosinophils (4,5), granulocytes, macrophages (6,7), thrombocytes, bronchial epithelial (8) cells, endothelial cells, and various types of lymphocytes (7,9). Many of these cells increase in number. Normally, lymphocytes make up only 10-20% of total cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), but they are the predominant (10) cells in airway biopsy specimens (11).