[The role of platelet activation in the pathogenesis of asthma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether platelets are activated during an asthmatic attack and to detect the correlation between platelet activation and severity of bronchial asthma.


METHODS
Plasma concentration of thromboxane B2(TXB2) and 11-dehydro-TXB2(11-DH-TXB2) and P-selectin (CD 62P) on platelet surface were measured in 44 patients with asthma and in 18 normal individuals using ELISA and FCP. The serum ECP level and pulmonary function were also analysed.


RESULTS
The plasma level of 11-DH-TXB2 and TXB2 and the positive percentage of CD 62P on platelets were significantly increased in patients with acute asthma (n = 28) as compared with the control (n = 18, P < 0.01). The plasma concentration of 11-DH-TXB2 and TXB2 were decreased significanty after the control of asthma. The level of platelet activation was correlated with ECP (r = 0.785, P < 0.05), FEV1% (r = -0.867, P < 0.01) and PEF(r = -0.745, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that there is an abnormal platelet activation in asthmatics, which can reflect the severity of bronchial asthma to a certain extent, although its exact, mechanism is unknown. The platelets secret a wide range of biologically active substances capable of inducing or augmenting the airway inflammatory responses in asthma.
Heng
W
W
Department of Respirology, First Affiliated Hospital, Suzhou Medical College, Suzhou 215006, China.
Wang
G
G
Wang
Z
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013929:Thromboxane B2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D019007:P-Selectin; D013929:Thromboxane B2; C049235:11-dehydro-thromboxane B2; D012260:Ribonucleases