(32-Adrenoceptor agonists are the most rffechve bron-&dilators currently available and exhibit efficacy irrr spective of the mediator (s) evoking bronchospasm. While their propensity t” evoke rapid bmnchodilatation accounts primarily for their use in asthma, an important (yet controversial) issue that has received considerable attention recently is whether p, adrenoceptor agonists alsohave anti-inflammatory activity-‘. In vitro exposure of isolated immune and pro-inflammatory cells such as eosinophils. mast cells, T cell and neutrophils to &-adrenoceptor agonists generally results in the inhibition of various functional indices of activation’.? 43. Similarly, acute administration of P,-adrenoceptor agonists to humans effectively suppresses inflammatory leukocyte infiltration and stabilizes mast cells m response to direct and indirect stimuli’Ji Despite these data. however, there is little evidence that regular administration of these drugs can prevent airways hyperreactivity, the late-phase asthx~ tic response “I the activation iIt niro of thme cells that initiate and perpetuate the chronic inflammation that characterizes asthma’.