[Studies on the mechanism of late asthmatic response by Candida antigen inhalation using bronchoalveolar lavage].
To elucidate the mechanism of late asthmatic response (LAR), which is related to intractable asthma attack, the cellular and humoral components of LAR were examined in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained after bronchial inhalation tests with Candida allergen on Candida-sensitive asthma patients. BAL examination was carried out 2 hours after remission of LAR, and differential cell counts and measurements of leukotrienes (LTs) by high performance liquid chromatography were investigated in BALF and peripheral blood. The number of neutrophils and basophils in circulating blood showed a peak before LAR, and then decreased markedly at LAR. And an increase in the percentage of eosinophils (p less than 0.01) and neutrophils was evident in BALF after LAR compared with the level in the non-attack state. The percentage of basophil-mast cells, however, did not change in the same manner. The serum level of LTC4 increased significantly at LAR in comparison with its level in the phase before LAR. And the level of LTC4 was also significantly higher in BALF after LAR (p less than 0.01). However, LTD4 and LTB4 were at almost undetectable levels in BALF in the non-attack state and after LAR. The results indicate that neutrophils as well as eosinophils may accumulate and release several kinds of leukotrienes at local sites in late asthmatic response provoked by the inhalation of Candida antigen; this gives clues as to the mechanism of severe and intractable asthma attacks.
Takahashi
K
K
Second Department of Medicine, Okayama University Medical School.
Soda
R
R
Shimizu
K
K
Nanba
K
K
Tsuji
M
M
Nanba
Y
Y
Ogurusu
K
K
Takeda
K
K
Inoki
A
A
Sugano
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000946:Antigens, Fungal / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D002175:Candida / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils
D000946:Antigens, Fungal; D015289:Leukotrienes