title: The importance of eosinophil activation for the development of allergen-induced bronchial hyperreactivity in conscious, unrestrained guinea-pigs.
abstract: Using a newly developed guinea-pig model of asthma, characterized by allergen-induced early and late phase asthmatic reactions, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) and airway inflammation, the importance of eosinophil activation for the development of BHR to inhaled histamine was investigated at 6 h (after the early reaction) and 24 h (after the late reaction) after allergen provocation. Eosinophil activation was assessed by a sensitive kinetic assay for eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) activity, suitable for bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis. A significant 2.9-fold (P < 0.01) increase in bronchial reactivity to histamine was observed at 6 h after allergen exposure, which was associated with a 2.9-fold increase in the number of eosinophils (P < 0.05) and a 6.7-fold increase in EPO activity (P < 0.01) in the BAL fluid. At 24 h after allergen exposure the bronchial reactivity to histamine was lower (1.7-fold), but still significantly enhanced (P < 0.01). By contrast, the number of eosinophils was further increased compared with 6 h after provocation (3.8-fold, P < 0.05), while the EPO activity remained stable at 6 h levels. The number of eosinophils was significantly correlated with EPO activity at 6 h (r = 0.62; P < 0.05), but not at 24 h after provocation. No significant correlation was observed between the number of eosinophils in the BAL fluid and BHR to histamine at either time point.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, University Centre for Pharmacy, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Santing
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pasman
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zaagsma
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meurs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology*; D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010544:Peroxidases / Q000032:analysis; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
chemical_list: D047209:Eosinophil Peroxidase; D010544:Peroxidases