The role of endothelium-derived mediators in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
BACKGROUND
Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is a highly prevalent condition whose pathogenesis and effect on airways remain unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the changes in endothelial-derived mediators following intensive exercise in asthmatic patients.


METHODS
The study was conducted in a group of 25 asthmatic patients (15 with EIB, 10 without EIB) and 8 healthy volunteers. Changes induced by intensive exercise in the plasma concentrations of endothelin-1 (ET-1), thrombomodulin and soluble E-selectin were determined. Moreover, the possible correlations of these measurements with the results of baseline lung function, bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), exhaled nitric oxide (F(ENO)), baseline eosinophil cationic protein, peripheral blood eosinophilia and total IgE were investigated.


RESULTS
In the group of asthmatics with EIB, statistically significantly higher baseline concentrations of ET-1 and soluble E-selectin compared with asthmatics with negative exercise test results were revealed. In this group of patients, ET-1, thrombomodulin and soluble E-selectin concentrations significantly increased after exercise. Baseline concentrations of ET-1 as well as an increase in soluble E-selectin concentrations 60 min after exercise showed a statistically significant correlation with baseline eosinophil cationic protein, F(ENO) and BHR. The increase in plasma concentrations of ET-1 15 min after exercise and soluble E-selectin 60 min after exercise showed a statistically significant correlation with the increase in F(ENO) and BHR to histamine 24 h after exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that during EIB changes in the function of pulmonary endothelium occur and these changes may influence inflammation of the airway and remodeling in asthmatic patients.
Zietkowski
Ziemowit
Z
Department of Allergology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland. z.zietkowski@wp.pl
Bodzenta-Lukaszyk
Anna
A
Tomasiak
Maria Magdalena
MM
Skiepko
Roman
R
Szmitkowski
Maciej
M
Mroczko
Barbara
B
D000328:Adult; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004727:Endothelium / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology*
D018836:Inflammation Mediators