title: The identification of PAF-release-enhancing activity in culture supernatant of mononuclear cells from asthmatics. Correlation between lymphocyte responses and immediate type hypersensitivity.
abstract: Cytokines from asthmatic mononuclear cells (MNC) cultured with Bermuda Grass pollen extract (BG), were tested for their effect on leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) generation by neutrophil under calcium ionophore stimulation. Three groups were enrolled in this study: 9 allergic asthmatics showing skin intradermal test positive to BG, 12 non-allergic asthmatics and 5 normal individuals. Results showed that the stimulation index of BG on MNC and the mediator-release enhancing activity from both allergic and non-allergic asthmatics were similar; neither showed significant increase when compared to that of normal individuals. However, there was a significant increase in PAF-release-enhancing activity in unstimulated MNC supernatant from both allergic and non-allergic asthmatics (618 +/- 75 pg/10(6) neutrophils and 569 +/- 60 pg/10(6) neutrophils) when compared to that of normal individuals (460 +/- 40 pg/10(6) neutrophils). This PAF-release-enhancing activity did not correlate with either skin test reactivity or the amount of BG specific IgE antibodies. The PAF-release-enhancing activity in unstimulated MNC supernatants from asthmatics suggesting that there is a pre-activation of MNC which might contribute to the asthmatic reaction through generation of PAF by neutrophils.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D007975:Leukotriene B4