title: Changes in the proportions of bronchoalveolar lymphocytes, neutrophils and basophilic cells and the release of histamine and leukotrienes from bronchoalveolar cells in patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma.
abstract: The proportion of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and the release of chemical mediators from BAL and peripheral blood cells were examined in 40 patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA) to clarify the effects of a long-term glucocorticoid regimen on these cells. The proportion of BAL lymphocytes was significantly reduced (p < 0.01) and the proportion of BAL neutrophils was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in SDIA patients compared with non-SDIA patients. The proportion of basophilic cells (mast cells and basophils) in BAL fluid was significantly lower in SDIA patients compared to non-SDIA patients (p < 0.02). The values of six ventilatory parameters were significantly lower in SDIA patients with a high proportion of BAL neutrophils (more than 10%) compared with the values in non-SDIA patients. The release of histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4) from the BAL cells of patients with atopic asthma was significantly reduced in SDIA patients compared with non-SDIA patients (p < 0.05). These results show that the changes in the proportion of BAL cells are observed in patients with SDIA, and these changes are related to suppressed ventilatory function and a reduction in the release of histamine and LTC4 from BAL cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Tottori, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanizaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okazaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mifune
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mitsunobu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kimura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013189:SRS-A / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D015289:Leukotrienes; D013189:SRS-A; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D011239:Prednisolone