title: Specific allergens enhance elastase release in stimulated neutrophils from asthmatic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The presence of the three forms of IgE receptor - the heterotrimeric high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc(epsilon)RI), the low-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc(epsilon)RII/CD23) and the Mac-2/IgE-binding protein (epsilonBP) - has been demonstrated on human neutrophils. We have previously shown that specific allergens are able to activate functional responses by neutrophils from allergic patients sensitized to those allergens. Neutrophils are present at the sites of allergic inflammation. The primary (azurophilic) granules of neutrophils contain a variety of enzymes, such as elastase, that might potentiate inflammation. It is not known whether specific allergens are able to elicit elastase release by neutrophils from allergic patients. In addition, we attempted to evaluate the relationship between neutrophil degranulation and lung function of the patients, measured as FEV(1).
  
  
  METHODS
  Neutrophils were challenged in vitro with the specific allergens that produced clinical symptoms in asthmatic patients. The cells were also challenged with allergen to which the patients were not sensitive. Neutrophils from normal subjects were challenged with allergens as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The in vitro challenge of neutrophils with allergens to which the patients were sensitive elicited a release of elastase by these cells. The in vitro activation of neutrophils was highly allergen specific; allergens other than those accounting for clinical symptoms did not evoke elastase release, and allergens were ineffective on neutrophils from healthy donors. A significant inverse correlation was observed between elastase release and patients' lung function, measured as FEV(1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An IgE-dependent mechanism might promote elastase release by neutrophils at allergic sites. There is a significant inverse relationship between levels of elastase released by neutrophils from allergic patients and lung function, as assessed by FEV(1).
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina, Servicio Regional de Immunología y Alergia, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España. fmonteseirinm@meditex.es
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Monteseirín
authors.forename: Inés
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bonilla
authors.forename: M Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Camacho
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chacón
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vega
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaparro
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Conde
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sobrino
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D019306:Artemisia / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D031745:Dactylis / Q000276:immunology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000378:metabolism*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D031658:Olea / Q000276:immunology; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000378:metabolism; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase