Diagnostic significance of immunoglobulins in infectious allergic bronchial asthma

In 100 patients with infectious allergic bronchial asthma the levels of IgM. IgG and IgA were determined by Mancini's method and the levels of IgE, tissue and microbial antibodies by the Prausnitz - Küstner test before and after combined treatment carried out under conditions of the microclimate of the salt mines in the village of Solotvino. The data on the content of immunoglobulins in the blood serum allowed the authors to establish 3 types of immediate hypersensitivity. THe decreased content of IgM in the blood serum indirectly revealed the role of immune complexes in the pathogenesis of infectious allergic bronchial asthma. The high content of IgE suggested that atopy could take some part in the infectious process.     

Effects of cortisol on calcium contents of lymphocytes in patients with bronchial asthma]

A fluorescent probe was used to study hydrocortisone (10 microM) action on mitogen-stimulated free cytoplasmic calcium level in lymphocytes of patients with bronchial asthma. The patients were divided into two groups according to their sensitivity to glucocorticoid therapy. Hydrocortisone-specific calcium-blocking effect was absent in hormone-resistant patients. Lymphocytes of hormone-sensitive patients responded to hydrocortisone administration by a decline of mitogen-induced calcium level.     

Arachidonic acid metabolites and their circadian rhythm in patients with allergic bronchial asthma

The aim of this study was to investigate circadian variation in concentrations of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in relation to the circadian pattern in bronchial patency. Blood samples were obtained at 4-hr intervals from 2000 of 1 day until 1400 of the next from 12 diurnally active asthmatic and six diurnally active non-asthmatic patients. Bloods were analyzed for the prostanoids thromboxane A2 (measured as stable metabolite 6-keto-PGF1a), PGE2 and PGF2a. Airways patency was assessed by self-measurement of peak expiratory flow (PEF). In asthmatics, circadian variation was detected in PEF as well as PGE2 and TXB2. The circadian trough of the PEF rhythm closely coincided with the circadian peak of the PGE2 and TXB2 rhythms. In the controls, the PEF was not circadian rhythmic. Of the AA metabolites only 6-keto-PGF1a exhibited 24-hr bioperiodicity in the controls. The controls exhibited a significantly higher circadian mean of PEF (P less than 0.001), while the asthmatics had a lower 24-hr average PGE2 but greater mean TXB2/PGE2 ratio. The obstructive effect caused by the overall 24-hr deficiency of PGE2 in asthmatics is possibly amplified by the increased of TXB2 during the early morning hours. This dissociation of the temporal patterns in TXB2 and PGE2 levels over the 24 hr is discussed as a characteristic finding for asthmatics.     

Mechanisms of the joint action of cortisol and adenosine on peripheral blood lymphocytes in bronchial asthma]

The effect of adenosine (10(-6) M) on the cyclic AMP production in lymphocytes of peripheral blood of patients with bronchial asthma and healthy donors was studied. Cells response to adenosine-induced stimulation was significantly decreased for asthmatic patients as compared to normal subjects. Cortisol (3 x 10(-6) M) was shown to be able to normalize suppressed function of cells of the patients. Adenosine (10(-6) M) changed the distribution of hormone-receptor complexes in lymphocytes of the healthy donors to cause increment of the number of 3H cortisol-receptor complexes bound by nucleus. The treatment of lymphocytes of patients with adenosine didn't give any change in specific nuclear 3H cortisol binding. The obtained results may be used for a rational choice of hormonal therapy.     

Effect of influenza vaccinations on immune response and serum eotaxin level in patients with allergic bronchial asthma

BACKGROUND: One of the most promising markers of allergic inflammation is eotaxin, which has a selective influence on the migration of eosinophils. Its serum content significantly correlates with the intensity of allergic symptoms, so it might be interesting to know whether vaccination has any influence on serum expression of this chemokine. AIMS: Comparison of the humoral response to influenza vaccine and post-vaccination changes in the serum eotaxin level in patients with allergic bronchial asthma and healthy controls. METHODS: Forty-two asthmatics and 45 healthy individuals were vaccinated with a single dose of influenza subunit vaccine (Influvac). The serum eotaxin level and the antibody response to haemagglutinin (HI) and neuraminidase (NI) glycoproteins were measured before and after vaccination. RESULTS: A significant increase of geometric mean titres of HI and NI was observed in both groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in meanfold increase of HI and NI titres, response rate and protective level of HI. After vaccination, a significant decrease of the mean serum eotaxin value was observed in patients with asthma (149.4 +/- 71.0 versus 125.1 +/- 67.0, p= 0.0017), while no similar effect was present in healthy individuals (153.4 +/- 56.9 versus 159.3 +/- 54.4, p= 0.5). CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that in patients with allergic bronchial asthma influenza vaccinations assure efficient protective antibody level and modulate the serum level of eotaxin.     

The cytogenetic action of antilymphocyte globulin on the lymphocytes of bronchial asthma patients

Chromosomal aberration levels and frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in peripheral blood lymphocytes were investigated for patients with bronchial asthma treated with antilymphocyte globulin (ALG). The significant elevation of chromosomal aberration levels and SCE frequencies were revealed as compared to the healthy controls. The significant differences in chromosomal aberration levels were not observed before and after the courses of ALG therapy. At the same time the SCE frequencies appeared to be significantly decreased after the course of ALG therapy. The similar effects were observed in studies in vitro. The data obtained may suggest that ALG at the used doses does not cause any significant cytogenetic damages in the examined patients.