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Blood eosinophils from asymptomatic allergies have a reduced capacity to produce oxygen‐free radicals
Author(s) -
Woschnagg C.,
Rak S.,
Venge P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03836.x
Subject(s) - allergy , eosinophil , immunology , medicine , asymptomatic , zymosan , asthma , endocrinology , chemistry , biochemistry , in vitro
Background The eosinophil granulocyte is an inflammatory cell that plays an active part in diseases such as asthma and rhinitis. This study aimed to investigate oxidative metabolism by blood eosinophils taken from allergic rhinitis patients, asthmatics, and nonallergic controls before and during the birch‐pollen season. Methods Twenty patients with allergy to birch pollen and seasonal symptoms of rhinitis, some of whom were also asthmatic, were followed before and during the birch‐pollen season in Sweden. The cells were purified using a Percoll gradient and the MACS system. Eosinophil purity in all samples was >95%. Oxidative metabolism was measured by a chemiluminescence (CL) assay, with luminol and lucigenin acting as enhancers, and PMA, serum‐treated zymosan (STZ), interleukin (IL)‐5. or RANTES as stimuli. Results The allergic subjects showed reduced luminol CL when activated before the season with PMA (P = 0.40) or STZ (P = 0.0055). This was not seen during pollen exposure. STZ‐activated lucigenin CL was also reduced before the season (P = 0.0027). The reduction was most evident in the group with asymptomatic rhinitis. In terms of eosinophil stimulation. IL‐5 and RANTES were equally effective in allergic and nonallergic subjects, both before and during the pollen season. Conclusions Blood eosinophils from asymptomatic allergies may have a lower capacity to produce oxygen‐free radicals than eosinophils from nonallergics.