Endogenous glucocorticoids and antigen-induced acute and late phase pulmonary responses.
BACKGROUND
Several studies suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids can dampen the severity of experimental allergic reactions in animals.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence that endogenous glucocorticoids have on the course of IgE-mediated pulmonary early and late phase reactions.


METHODS
Twenty-one allergic asthmatic and six healthy control subjects underwent inhaled antigen challenge with measurements of plasma cortisol and cortisone by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
There were no differences between the asthmatic and control groups in the baseline levels of cortisol or cortisone. However, the asthmatic subjects had significantly higher cortisol levels (67.2 +/- 8.6 vs 35.1 +/- 4.5 ng/mL; P = 0.04) and had higher cortisol/cortisone ratios (4.8 +/- 0. 6 vs 3.0 +/- 0.2; P = 0.01) 8 h after challenge compared to the control subjects. Among the asthmatic subjects, those whose FEV1 recovered rapidly had higher baseline levels of cortisol and those who displayed a late phase reaction had lower levels of cortisol during the late phase period.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids may play a significant role in the modulation of airway responses to antigen challenge, and that antigen challenge may induce cortisol production in allergic subjects.
Peebles
R S
RS
Department of Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
Togias
A
A
Bickel
C A
CA
Diemer
F B
FB
Hubbard
W C
WC
Schleimer
R P
RP
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction; D003348:Cortisone / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics
D000941:Antigens; D003348:Cortisone; D006854:Hydrocortisone