The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 122, Issue 4 , Pages 768-773.e1, October 2008

Increase in inflammatory mediator concentrations in exhaled breath condensate after allergen inhalation

  • Emiko Ono, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • Division of the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Oita University School of Medicine, Yuhu, Oita, Japan
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: Emiko Ono, MD, Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sakuradai 18-1, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 228-8522, Japan.
    • ,
  • Haruhisa Mita, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Masami Taniguchi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Noritaka Higashi, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Takahiro Tsuburai, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Maki Hasegawa, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
    • ,
  • Eishi Miyazaki, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Oita University School of Medicine, Yuhu, Oita, Japan
    • ,
  • Toshihide Kumamoto, MD

      Affiliations

    • Division of the Third Department of Internal Medicine, Oita University School of Medicine, Yuhu, Oita, Japan
    • ,
  • Kazuo Akiyama, MD

      Affiliations

    • Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan

Received 21 February 2008; received in revised form 2 June 2008; accepted 6 June 2008. published online 14 July 2008.

Background

Although a number of studies have been carried out to examine the baseline concentrations of inflammatory mediators in asthmatic patients, the clinical utility of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in allergen-induced bronchoconstriction has not yet been clarified.

Objective

We examined whether the release of inflammatory mediators can be detected in EBC after allergen-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients.

Methods

We quantified mast cell–associated mediators in EBC and their corresponding urinary metabolites before and after allergen inhalation.

Results

Early asthmatic responses (EARs) caused significant increases in the concentrations of cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs; median, 10.4 vs 99.0 pg/mL; P < .0001) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2; median, 2.26 vs 8.72 pg/mL; P = .0077), but not that of histamine, from baseline concentrations. Significant increases in the concentrations of urinary leukotriene E4 and 9α, 11β-prostaglandin F2 were detected in patients with EARs. However, the percentage increases in the concentrations of CysLTs and PGD2 in EBC did not correlate with those of their corresponding urinary metabolites. The increases in concentrations of CysLTs and PGD2 in EBC in patients with EARs correlated with each other and correlated with the extent of decrease in FEV1. An insignificant difference in tyrosine concentration before and after the inhalation test demonstrated that errors caused by dilution of inflammatory mediators are negligibly small in EBC collected over a short period.

Conclusion

In patients with allergen-induced EARs, pulmonary generation of mast cell–associated mediators can be evaluated by quantifying CysLTs and PGD2 in EBC, suggesting that the quantification of EBC mediators might be useful in monitoring acute asthmatic airway inflammation.

Key words: Early asthmatic responses, exhaled breath condensate, cysteinyl leukotrienes, prostaglandin D2, histamine, inflammatory mediators, mast cells

Abbreviations used: BAL, Bronchoalveolar lavage, CysLT, Cysteinyl leukotriene, EAR, Early asthmatic response, EBC, Exhaled breath condensate, EIA, Enzyme immunoassay, LTE4, Leukotriene E4, PGD2, Prostaglandin D2, PGD2-MOX, PGD2-methoxime, 9α, 11β-PGF2, 9α, 11β-Prostaglandin F2

 

 Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: The authors have declared that they have no conflict of interest.

PII: S0091-6749(08)01130-5

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2008.06.009

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 122, Issue 4 , Pages 768-773.e1, October 2008