The effect of aspirin on mononuclear cells in aspirin-sensitive asthmatics and control subjects

Three groups, comprising normal subjects (n = 10), aspirin-sensitive asthmatics (ASA+; n = 10) and aspirin-insensitive asthmatics (ASA-; n = 10) were entered into a blinded, parallel group study to asses the modulating effect of aspirin (ASA; 0.0275, 0.275, 1.385, 2.75, 6.9, 13.8 and 27.5 microM) on lymphocyte proliferation in vitro, either alone or in combination with the mitogen, phytohemagglutinin (PHA; 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 micrograms/ml). The percentage and absolute numbers of CD4-positive T cells (normals: 51.3%; ASA+: 51.1%; ASA-: 46.1%; p = 0.4038) and CD8-positive T cells (normal: 27.5%; ASA+: 26.4%; ASA-: 28.4%; p = 0.8408) did not differ significantly between the groups. Significant differences in mean PHA responses between ASA+, ASA- and normal subjects were observed when peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were exposed to PHA concentrations over the range 10-50 micrograms/ml; PHA 10 micrograms/ml (p < 0.005), PHA 25 micrograms/ml (p < 0.005) and PHA 50 micrograms/ml (p < 0.01), the lowest and highest proliferative responses being obtained with PBL from ASA+ and ASA-, respectively. However, at higher PHA concentrations (100-500 micrograms/ml), differences between the three groups were not observed. When ASA was added in combination with PHA, augmentation of the PHA response was observed with cells from all three groups but was most marked in the ASA+ group, especially at lower PHA concentrations (10-50 micrograms/ml) in combination with 0.275-13.8 microM ASA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)