Effect of nedocromil sodium on neutrophil and eosinophil-induced epithelial cell desquamation in a human in vitro epithelial model.

A human amniotic epithelial membrane preparation was used as a model to study epithelial responses to neutrophils and eosinophils, obtained from normal subjects using Percoll density gradient methods, and activated by phorbyl myristate acetate (PMA). Incubation of activated neutrophils with the epithelial membrane resulted in epithelial cell desquamation, probably due to release of proteases. Activated eosinophils resulted in epithelial cell damage but no desquamation, an action that appeared to be mimicked by major basic protein (MBP). The addition of nedocromil sodium did not significantly inhibit neutrophil-induced epithelial cell desquamation. In one preliminary experiment, nedocromil sodium (10(-4) to 10(-5) mol/L) inhibited epithelial cell desquamation induced by a mixed population of eosinophils and neutrophils.