Production of diacylglycerol and arachidonic acid in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with asthma and healthy controls.
BACKGROUND
Enhanced activities of peripheral blood cells are a common characteristic of patients with asthma.


OBJECTIVE
Here we tested whether this could be due to a dysfunction in one or more signal transduction systems.


METHODS
The production of 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DAG) and arachidonic acid was compared in mononuclear blood cells from patients with asthma (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 12).


RESULTS
Using three different stimuli (concanavalin A, aluminium fluoride or the calcium ionophore A23187) no difference in the production of both 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid could be found between patients and controls before allergen challenge. Concanavalin A-induced 1,2-DAG production could be inhibited completely in the presence of isoprenaline; concanavalin A-induced arachidonic acid production, partially. The inhibitory effect of adenylate cyclase activation on the production of 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid was identical in patients and controls. Following allergen challenge, there was a tendency to an increased production of 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid in controls, whereas in patients there was a tendency to a decreased production.


CONCLUSIONS
Enhanced cellular activities found in patients with asthma are not caused by an intrinsic dysfunction in production of 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid.
Dooper
M W
MW
Department of Allergology, State University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands.
Timmermans
A
A
Aalbers
R
R
Weersink
E J
EJ
de Monchy
J G
JG
Kauffman
H F
HF
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D004075:Diglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology
C011439:1,2-diacylglycerol; D000485:Allergens; D004075:Diglycerides; D004391:Dust; D003208:Concanavalin A; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D000001:Calcimycin; D007545:Isoproterenol; D005459:Fluorides