title: Association between nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity and superoxide anion production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes in chronic airflow obstruction.
abstract: Inflammatory reactions are believed to be important in nonspecific bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). To investigate the potential role for oxidant-mediated modulation of BHR, we investigated oxidative metabolism of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from the peripheral blood in 28 nonallergic patients with chronic airflow obstruction (CAO). No difference in O2- generation was found between 14 smokers and 14 ex-smokers with CAO. A significant correlation was found between the degree of BHR and O2- generation of PMN after stimulation with 20 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate, both in smokers (r = 0.59, p less than 0.01) and in ex-smokers (r = 0.79, p less than 0.01). The results suggest that oxygen radicals in a direct or indirect way may modulate BHR. Thus, in nonallergic patients with CAO, BHR and inflammation may be linked in a similar way as in allergic patients with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, State University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Renkema
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Noordhoek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Sluiter
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Kauffman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D013481:Superoxides