Correlation between the results of glucocorticoid therapy and in vitro effect of glucocorticoids on monocytes in asthma

The effects of glucocorticoids on monocyte morphology and function in vitro and the results of high-dose budesonide therapy in patients with non-severe bronchial asthma were analyzed. Before therapy with inhalation glucocorticosteroid (budesonide) characteristics of blood monocytes and the effects of different concentrations of prednisolone on these cells were studied in vitro by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and computer-assisted phase-interference microscopy. High sensitivity of patients to budesonide was associated with pronounced in vitro inhibitory effect of prednisolone on monocyte activity, which was not observed in cases with delayed effects of therapy. Pronounced inhibitory effects of glucocorticoids on monocytes in vitro were observed in patients both resistant and highly sensitive to glucocorticoid therapy. Hence, the resistance of patients with non-severe asthma to high-dose budesonide therapy is not related to the weakening of the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on monocyte activity.