[The potential role and mechanism of leukotriene and platelet-activating factor in allergic disease].
Eosinophilic accumulation in the airway is a prominent feature in patients with bronchial asthma (chronic desquamative eosinophilic bronchitis). Recently, arachidonic acid metabolite such as leukotriene, 15-HETE and PAF are proved to play an essential role as chemical mediators in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. A close relation is found between eosinophils activation and those mediators. The bronchoconstrictive leukotriene (LT C4, D4, E4) are generated mainly from eosinophils and mast cells, while the chemoattractive LTB4 is produced from neutrophils. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is postulated as a causative mediator of the eosinophilic airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness because PAF attracts and activates preferentially eosinophils. Evidence that eosinophils have ability to produce PAF like other inflammatory cells suggests an autocrine mechanisms of the eosinophil activation by PAF.
Department of Medicine and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo.
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K
Yoshida
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M
Suko
D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology
D006893:Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acids; D015289:Leukotrienes; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; C025984:15-hydroxy-5,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid