title: Leukotriene B4 levels in sputum from asthma patients.
abstract: Poor asthma control is associated with increased airway neutrophils. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant. We examined the levels of LTB4 levels in the sputum of asthma patients and the relationship with disease severity. 47 asthma patients (categorised according to Global Initiative for Asthma treatment stage) and 12 healthy controls provided sputum samples that were processed first with PBS to obtain supernatants and secondly with dithiothreitol (DTT) to obtain supernatants. LTB4 levels were determined by ELISA. LTB4 levels were significantly higher in step 1 (steroid naïve) and step 3 (inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) plus long acting β-agonist) patients than step 2 patients (ICS alone) (p=0.02 and p=0.01, respectively). There was very good correlation when comparing PBS processed to DTT processed supernatants. High LTB4 levels were found in the sputum of asthmatics at step 3 despite ICS use.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Higham
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cadden
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Southworth
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rossall
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Umme
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kolsum
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lea
authors.affiliation: Respiratory CEDD, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.affiliation: Centre for Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Institute of Inflammation and Repair, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester and University Hospital of South Manchester, NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh