Allergens Induce the Release of Lactoferrin by Neutrophils from Asthmatic Patients.
BACKGROUND
Despite the evidence that Lactoferrin (Lf) is involved in allergic asthma processes, it is unknown whether neutrophils can be one of the main cellular sources of this key inflammatory mediator directly in response of an IgE mediated stimulus. The present study was undertaken to analyze this question.


METHODS
Neutrophils from healthy subjects (n = 34) and neutrophils from allergic asthmatic patients (n = 102) were challenged in vitro with specific allergens to which the patients were sensitized, PAF, or agonist mAbs against IgE-receptors, and the levels of Lf were measured in the culture supernatant. The levels of serum IgE together with the severity of symptoms were also analyzed.


RESULTS
Lf was released into the culture supernatant of neutrophils from allergic asthmatic patients in response to allergens and PAF. This response was highly allergen-specific, and did not happen in neutrophils from healthy donors. Allergen effect was mimicked by Abs against FcεRI and galectin-3 but not by FcεRII. The levels of released Lf correlated well with the levels of serum specific IgE and severity of asthma symptoms. These observations represent a novel view of neutrophils as an important source of Lf in allergic asthma. Importantly, the levels of released Lf by neutrophils could therefore be used to evaluate disease severity in allergic asthmatic patients.
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Lourdes
L
Fernández-Delgado
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Antonio
A
Vega-Rioja
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Inmaculada
I
Ventura
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Cristina
C
Chamorro
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Rocío
R
Aroca
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain.
Manuel
M
Prados
Servicio de Alergia, Hospital Infanta Elena, Badajoz, Spain.
Pedro
P
Bobadilla
Laboratorios Diater, Madrid, Spain.
David
D
Rodríguez
Laboratorios Diater, Madrid, Spain.
Ricardo
R
Palacios
Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Alergia Intercentros, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, Spain; Departamento de Medicina. Facultad de Medicina. Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, Spain.
Javier
J
Monteseirín
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D017455:Receptors, IgE / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D000485:Allergens; D037502:Galectin 3; D017455:Receptors, IgE; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007781:Lactoferrin