EFFECT OF IMIDAZOLE SALICYLATE ON THE RESPIRATORY BURST OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES

The effect of imidazole salicylate (IS), an organic salt of imidazole and salicylic acid, on the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) was investigated using a chemiluminescence (CL) assay. Luminol- and lucigenin-amplified CL of PMNs stimulated with N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) or phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were evaluated in the absence or presence of 1 to 4 mug/ml of IS. Luminol-amplified CL of PMNs activated with FMLP was significantly reduced in the presence of IS, whereas no significant effect was observed on PMA-stimulated PMNs. Lucigenin-amplified CL of PMA-stimulated PMNs was significantly inhibited by IS. CL of the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system was abolished in the presence of IS. These results suggest that IS is a scavenger of the superoxide anion and that it can influence the respiratory burst of PMNs, probably by interacting with the plasma membrane.