Number and activity of inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in asthma and their relation to airway responsiveness.

Abstract

Bronchial responsiveness to inhaled methacholine was measured four to six days before fibreoptic bronchoscopy in 22 asthmatic patients (10 smokers) and 20 control subjects (12 smokers).The asthmatic patients had a baseline FEV, greater than 60% predicted and a PD20FEV, (provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV,) of 0 006-3-7 mg. The 20 control subjects had normal pulmonary function and a PD20FEV, above the maximum cumulative dose of methacholine of 6-4 mg. Bronchoalveolar lavage of a middle lobe segment (lingula in four subjects) was performed with three sequential 60 ml aliquots of sterile saline. Cellular metabolic activity was stimulated with latex in aliquots of resuspended cells, and measured by means of luminol enhanced chemiluminescence to assess neutrophil activity and lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence to assess macrophage activity. Mean absolute total cell counts were similar in the asthmatic and control groups but there were differences in differential cell counts, with a significant increase in eosinophil (p < 0 05) and lymphocyte (p < 0 05) counts in asthma. PD20FEV, was negatively correlated with percentage neutrophil counts (p < 0005). Luminol enhanced chemiluminescence/1000 neutrophils was increased about twofold in asthmatic subjects (p < 0 001), but was not correlated with PD20FEV1. Lucigenin enhanced chemiluminescence/1000 macrophages was increased nearly fourfold in asthmatic patients (p < 0-001) and showed a negative correlation with PD20FEV, (p < 0-01). The macrophage count was increased twofold in current smokers in both groups, but other cell numbers were not altered significantly. Smoking did not affect cellular metabolic activity in either group. This study supports the idea that an inflammatory process is present in the airways of those with asthma, and suggests a relation between bronchial responsiveness and both neutrophil numbers and macrophage activity.

Possible anti-inflammatory effect of salmeterol against interleukin-8 and neutrophil activation in asthmain vivo

“…The asthmatic inflammatory response consists of infiltration into the airway of a variety of activated inflammatory cells with release of mediators of asthma pathophysiology. The eosinophil has an established role as an effector cell in asthma but the pro-inflammatory role of other granulocytes, in particular the neutrophil, remains less well defined [1,2].Increased numbers of airway neutrophils have been described in severe steroid-dependent asthma, during acute exacerbations and in cases of sudden-onset fatal disease [3][4][5]. An increase in neutrophil activation, but not numbers, in mild chronic asthma has previously been shown [6].…”

“…The asthmatic inflammatory response consists of infiltration into the airway of a variety of activated inflammatory cells with release of mediators of asthma pathophysiology. The eosinophil has an established role as an effector cell in asthma but the pro-inflammatory role of other granulocytes, in particular the neutrophil, remains less well defined [1,2].…”

CD69 surface expression on human lung eosinophils after segmental allergen provocation

“…Alveolar macrophages of asthmatic patients demonstrated enhanced chemiluminescence, which correlated with asthma severity and bronchial hyperresponsiveness [4,5]. An increased oxidative burden has been noted, not only in the pulmonary compartment, but also in peripheral blood cells which generate higher levels of ROS both spontaneously and after stimulation in comparison to healthy controls.…”

“…Cells involved in the inflammatory process in asthma have been shown to generate increased amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [1±3] and levels of ROS generation correlate with asthma severity [4]. ROS-generation is enhanced in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells of stable asthmatics [5] and increases after antigen challenge [6]. ROS can influence airway cell function by interacting with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), altering protein structures, interfering with signal transduction mechanisms by oxidative modification (e.g.…”

Obesity, Diet, Exercise and Asthma in Children

“…Lungs have several antioxidant mechanisms including enzymatic (catalase, glutathione peroxidase ans superoxide dismutase) and nonenzymatic ones (vitamin C, E, albumin, uric acid, cerulopasmin and glutathione). Increased ROS generation is found when the activity of neutrophils, eosinophils, monocytes and macrophages is increased, as occurs in asthma (Kelly et al, 1988). Oxidative stress (a situation of imbalance between the production of ROS and the ability to detoxify the reactive intermediates or to repair the resulting damage) is an important consequence of asthma inflammation; is associated with an altered activity in anti-oxidation in lungs and blood; and also with airway reactivity (Katsumata et al, 1990;Nadeem et al, 2005;Sackesen et al, 2008).…”