TY - JOUR T1 - Sodium cromoglycate and doxantrazole are oxygen radical scavengers JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J SP - 867 LP - 872 DO - 10.1183/09031936.02.00382002 VL - 20 IS - 4 AU - G. Sadeghi-Hashjin AU - F.P. Nijkamp AU - P.A.J. Henricks AU - G. Folkerts Y1 - 2002/10/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/20/4/867.abstract N2 - The effects of two mast cell stabilisers, sodium cromoglycate (SCG) and doxantrazole, on the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were studied. Guinea-pig alveolar macrophages (AMs) generated lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence (LDCL). This was increased when the cells were stimulated by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or zymosan (by 133% and 464%, respectively, in total LDCL over 60 min). SCG decreased PMA-induced LDCL at higher concentrations (10 mM, by 55%) than doxantrazole (1 mM, by 75%). SCG decreased radical production by AMs in response to zymosan in a concentration-dependent manner by ≤72%. Doxantrazole (0.1–1 mM) diminished total LDCL by 30–80%. In addition, glucose oxidase led to LDCL generation when incubated with glucose in a cell-free medium. This was inhibited by 47–83% in the presence of SCG or doxantrazole. SCG and doxantrazole inhibited the hydrogen peroxide- and peroxynitrite-induced LDCL by ≤92%. Moreover, these drugs slightly increased the survival rate of the AMs. It is concluded that doxantrazole- and sodium cromoglycate-inhibited lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence production by guinea-pig alveolar macrophages is due to a direct scavenging effect on reactive oxygen species. Doxantrazole is ∼10-times more potent. Mast cell stabilisers may be effective in allergic asthma not only by preventing the allergen-induced mediator release, but also by preventing radical-induced lung damage. ER -