title: Leukotriene B4 and late asthmatic reactions induced by toluene diisocyanate.
abstract: We investigated whether leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is released from the lungs of sensitized subjects during asthmatic reactions induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI). We examined three groups of TDI-sensitized subjects, one after no exposure to TDI, the second 8 h after an exposure to TDI that caused an early asthmatic reaction, and the third 8 h after an exposure to TDI that caused a late asthmatic reaction. We analyzed bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography and by specific radioimmunoassay. The mean concentration of LTB4 was higher [0.31 +/- 0.09 (SE) ng/ml, range 0.15-0.51] in BAL fluid of sensitized subjects who developed a late asthmatic reaction than in BAL fluid of subjects who developed an early asthmatic reaction (0.05 +/- 0.04 ng/ml, range 0-0.224), and no LTB4 was detectable in the control subjects. We also performed BAL 8 h after TDI exposure on four TDI-sensitized late-dual reactors who were on steroid treatment. In this group of subjects no LTB4 was detectable. These results suggest that LTB4 may be involved in late asthmatic reactions induced by TDI.
authors.affiliation: Interuniversity Center on Mechanisms of Lung Injury, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zocca
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Fabbri
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boschetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masiero
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Milani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pivirotto
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Mapp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003485:Cyanates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D003485:Cyanates; D014051:Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate; D007975:Leukotriene B4