INHIBITION OF ANTIGEN-INDUCED LATE ASTHMATIC RESPONSE AND BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS BY CYCLOSPORINE AND FK-506

Using a guinea pig model of asthma, we have shown that the administration of cyclosporin, a T-lymphocyte-selective immunosuppressive agent, from the beginning of the immunization period inhibits the development of the late asthmatic response and bronchial hyperresponsiveness after antigen challenge. Similar results were obtained with FK 506, a new potent immunosuppressive agent. Since these compounds have been shown to suppress the activation of guinea pig T lymphocytes, the present data suggest that T lymphocytes may be important for the elicitation of the late asthmatic response and bronchial hyperresponsiveness.