IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine made by lymphocytes, monocytes-macrophages, and eosinophils, and it may have an important role in regulating the asthmatic inflammatory response. There is accumulating evidence that montelukast has anti-inflammatory effects. This may be, in part, mediated via an upregulation in the production of the IL-10. We determined whether montelukast would increase the production of IL-10, by PBMC stimulated in vitro with allergen.

The objective of this investigation was to study IL-10 concentration in vitro in patients allergic to grass pollen before and after 1 month monotherapy with montelukast. Study took place between September and October. Before and after treatment with montelukast PBMC were isolated and cultured with grass-pollen extract (GPE) for 24 h. Il-10 concentration in supernatant was determined by ELISA.

10 children (age 8–17) completed the study. Treatment with montelukast significantly increased Il-10 concentration in supernatant. Mean IL-10 levels before and after treatment with montelukast were 68,0 pg/ml (± 25,5) and 138,3 pg/ml (± 42,6) respectively (p=0,002).

This study demonstrates that one possible antiinflammatory effect of montelukast is upregulation IL-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.