Ozone-induced inflammation assessed in sputum and bronchial lavage fluid from asthmatics: a new noninvasive tool in epidemiologic studies on air pollution and asthma.
We investigated correlations between ozone-induced increases in inflammatory markers in induced sputum and in bronchial lavage fluid. Sixteen volunteers with intermittent asthma participated in a placebo-controlled parallel study with two exposures. Six days before and 16 h after the first exposure to ozone (0.4 ppm during 2 h) sputum was induced with hypertonic saline. This resulted in a significant increase in the sputum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP; 1.8-fold; p = .03), neutrophil elastase (5.0-fold; p = .005) and the total cell number (1.6-fold; p = .02). After 4 weeks, a second exposure was randomized for air or ozone. Six days before and 16 h after the second exposure a bronchial lavage was performed. ECP values in sputum and in bronchial lavage fluid obtained after ozone correlated significantly (Rs = .79; p = .04), as did interleukin-8 (IL-8) values (Rs = .86; p = .01), and the percentage eosinophils (Rs = .89; p = .007). Moreover, the ozone-induced changes in percentage eosinophils observed in sputum and lavage fluid were highly correlated (Rs = .93; p = .003). In conclusion, changes in eosinophils, IL-8, and ECP markers induced by ozone and measured in sputum reflect the inflammatory responses in the lower airways of asthmatics, and may provide a noninvasive tool in epidemiologic studies on air pollution and asthma.
Hiltermann
J T
JT
Department of Pulmonology, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands.
Lapperre
T S
TS
van Bree
L
L
Steerenberg
P A
PA
Brahim
J J
JJ
Sont
J K
JK
Sterk
P J
PJ
Hiemstra
P S
PS
Stolk
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010919:Placebos; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D010919:Placebos; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D010126:Ozone; D012260:Ribonucleases; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase