Related Experiment Videos
Immunoglobulin E-mediated increase in vascular permeability correlates with eosinophilic inflammation
D S Collins1, R Dupuis, G J Gleich
1Department of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5083.
The American Review of Respiratory Disease
|March 1, 1993
Summary
Eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are linked to increased lung permeability in allergic asthma. Their presence and degranulation correlate with albumin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after antigen challenge.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Pulmonology
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Bronchovascular permeability is implicated in allergic asthma pathogenesis.
- The specific cell types involved in increased permeability post-antigen challenge require clarification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between inflammatory cell infiltration and bronchovascular permeability.
- To identify specific cell types responsible for increased permeability 24 hours after segmental antigen challenge in allergic humans.
Main Methods:
- Segmental antigen challenge with varying concentrations in ragweed-allergic volunteers.
- Analysis of inflammatory cell counts and albumin concentration in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.
- Correlation and regression analyses to determine cell-type specific contributions to permeability.
Main Results:
- Significant eosinophil recruitment and elevated BAL albumin concentrations occurred only at high antigen challenge concentrations (≥100-fold above skin test dose).
- A strong positive correlation was found between BAL eosinophil concentration and albumin concentration (r=+0.82).
- Eosinophils accounted for 67% of the variance in BAL albumin concentration, with no other cell type being a significant predictor.
Conclusions:
- Eosinophil recruitment and degranulation are significantly associated with increased bronchovascular permeability in humans following segmental antigen challenge.
- Eosinophils play a key role in the increased vascular permeability observed in allergic asthma.