SELECTIVE EFFECTS OF PENTAMIDINE ON CYTOSOLIC AND GRANULE-ASSOCIATED ENZYME-RELEASE FROM ZYMOSAN-ACTIVATED HUMAN NEUTROPHILIC GRANULOCYTES

Therapeutic concentrations (0.3-1.5 mg L-1) of pentamidine isethionate, normally obtainable in-vivo after parenteral administration of the drug, did not affect the in-vitro activity of the enzymes lysozyme, beta-glucuronidase or myeloperoxidase released from zymosan-activated human neutrophilic granulocytes. At concentrations of 0.7, 1.1 and 1.5 mg L-1, activity of cytosolic enzymes lactate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were reduced relative to untreated cells (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively), but not in a dose-dependent fashion. Cell viability, as determined by dye-exclusion remained unaffected.