title: Selectively enhanced sensitivity of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) mast cells to IgE dependent stimulation in mild asthmatics.
abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the histamine-releasing ability of mast cells from asthmatic bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Following the measurement of the forced expiratory volume at the first second (FEV1), 29 mild asthmatics were included in the study and were subjected to fibreoptic bronchoscopy. The cells recovered from the BALF were challenged with anti-IgE, calcium ionophore A23187 (CI) or adenosine, and the released histamine was measured with an enzyme-linked chromogenic assay. Enzymatically dispersed mast cells from human lung or colon tissues were employed as control groups. The results showed that mast cells from BALF were at least 100 fold more sensitive to anti-IgE than those from lung or colon tissues. However, there was little difference between mast cells from BALF, lung or colon tissues in response to CI. Adenosine failed to stimulate histamine release from BALF mast cells. In conclusion, asthmatic BALF mast cells are much more sensitive to IgE-dependent stimulation than the non-IgE-dependent ones, indicating that mast cells may play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma.
authors: Allergy and Inflammation Research Institute, the Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR China.
authors: Hua
authors: H
authors: Xie
authors: Shaoheng
authors: S
authors: He
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000328:Adult; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007476:Ionophores / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D007476:Ionophores; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D000001:Calcimycin; D000241:Adenosine