Changes in RANTES and beta-thromboglobulin after intensive exercise in patients with allergic asthma

There is increasing evidence that exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation. In the pathogenesis of EIB the role of chemokines - responsible for promoting the migration and activation of inflammatory cells - as well as blood platelets, a potential source of those chemokines, remains unclear.

The study was conducted in a group of 19 asthmatics (11 with EIB, 8 without EIB) and 8 healthy volunteers. Changes in the plasma concentrations of RANTES and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) induced by intensive exercise were determined. Moreover, the possible correlation of these measurements with the results of other tests used in the diagnosis of asthma as well as laboratory tests commonly associated with asthma were investigated.

A comparison of the concentrations of beta-TG in all groups studied at rest did not reveal any significant differences. In all groups studied, 30 min after exercise elevated beta-TG concentrations were observed; the most significant increase was revealed in asthmatics with EIB. The baseline concentrations of RANTES before exercise in both groups of asthmatics were significantly higher in comparison to the group of healthy volunteers. After exercise, in the group of patients with EIB, a significant increase in RANTES concentrations was observed. These changes correlated with an increase in other markers of airway inflammation 24 h after exercise.

We suggest that platelet activation, resulting in elevated RANTES release, could be one of the factors responsible for the increase of airway inflammation observed in consequence of EIB in asthmatics.