IFN-gamma activates superoxide anion production in blood monocytes from allergic asthmatic patients.
BACKGROUND
Peripheral blood monocytes may participate in allergic diseases by releasing inflammatory mediators. We have recently shown enhancement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) oxidase activity in adherent human peripheral blood monocytes from allergic patients when immunoglobulin E (IgE) binds to its low affinity receptor. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a monocyte-activating lymphokine, has been shown to prime monocytes for superoxide anion release.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that IFN-gamma could directly activate blood monocyte superoxide anion release and evaluated its modulatory effect on IgE-induced superoxide anion release from those cells.


METHODS
Seven patients with allergic asthma, 6 patients with allergic rhinitis, and five nonallergic controls were studied. We measured superoxide anion release from their blood monocytes using a chemiluminescence assay. Cells were either nonstimulated, or stimulated for 30 minutes with IFN-gamma and/or serum IgE.


RESULTS
We found that IFN-gamma stimulated superoxide anion production and decreased the IgE-induced superoxide anion production after 30 minutes of IFN-gamma preincubation only in blood monocytes from patients with allergic asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that IFN-gamma receptors may be increased and/or coupled to NADPH oxidase in allergic asthmatic patients.
Demoly
P
P
Clinique des Maladies Respiratoires and INSERM CJF 92-10, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France.
Damon
M
M
Michel
F B
FB
Godard
P
P
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism*
D013481:Superoxides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007371:Interferon-gamma