TABLE 3

Effect of β₂-adrenoceptor agonist/glucocorticoid combinations on GRE-dependent transcription

As described in Fig. 2, GRE BEAS-2B cells were treated with various concentrations of fluticasone (30 pM to 300 nM), budesonide (30 nM to 300 nM) and dexamethasone (30 nM to 1 μM) in the absence and presence of fixed concentrations of salmeterol (100 nM), salbutamol (1 μM), and formoterol (10 nM). After 6 h, cells were harvested for luciferase activity determination. pEC₅₀ values were calculated for each glucocorticoid in the presence or absence of each β_2-adrenoceptor agonist. Overall activation of the GRE reporter and the enhancement evoked by each β₂-adrenoceptor over that produced by the glucocorticoid alone are shown. See Fig. 2 and text for further details.