Neutrophil chemotactic factor of anaphylaxis

In Vitro and in Vivo Antigen-Induced Release of High-Molecular Weight Neutrophil Chemotactic Activity from Human Nasal Tissue

High molecular weight neutrophil chemotactic activity has been identified in resected human nasal polyps, inferior turbinates, and nasal secretions following antigen challenge. The estimated molecular weight, by gel filtration chromatography, was approximately 600,000. However, a heterogeneity of molecular weight in some patients was recognized. Our results suggest a possible role for high molecular weight-neutrophil chemotactic activity in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity in the human nasal cavity.

Identification of a ubiquitin family protein as a novel neutrophil chemotactic factor

Neutrophil chemotaxis is a process that is essential for the recruitment of neutrophils to an inflamed site. In the present study, we found a remarkable increase in neutrophil chemotactic activity in the lysate of red blood cells (RBC) of mice infected with murine malaria, Plasmodium yoelii. A neutrophil chemotactic factor with an apparent molecular weight of 17 kDa (IP17) was isolated from RBC by a combination of anion-exchange chromatography on DE52 and cation-exchange chromatography on Mono S. A comprehensive GenBank database search of N-terminal amino acid sequences and MALDI-TOF mass analysis of IP17 revealed that IP17 is identical to a murine homologue of ISG15/UCRP, a member of the ubiquitin family of proteins that are inducible by interferon-beta. Recombinant mouse ISG15 showed neutrophil chemotactic activity comparable to that of natural IP17. IP17 showed specific chemotactic activity forward neutrophils and activated neutrophils to induce the release of eosinophil chemotactic factors. These results suggest that the ubiquitin family protein ISG15/UCRP has novel functions in neutrophil-mediated immune mechanisms.

Neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in nasal secretions from atopic and nonatopic subjects. Effect of antigen challenge

In order to elucidate the mechanism responsible for infiltration of nasal mucosa by granulocytes, we tested neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) in nasal lavages, by the modified Boyden chamber method, in 16 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (AR), six ASA-sensitive patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and seven normal, nonatopic control subjects (NC). Nasal secretions from all three groups showed significant NCA (mean 157.1 +/- 54.0, 62.2 +/- 20.7, and 39.4 +/- 11.4% of FMLP chemotactic activity for AR, CRS, and NC subjects, respectively). Nasal secretions from patients with AR expressed significantly higher NCA (P < 0.02) than did secretions from NA patients. NCA was unchanged by heating at 56 degrees C for 60 min and was not susceptible to degradation by trypsin. Nasal challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen induced clinical symptoms and resulted in significant increases in total protein and albumin concentrations in nasal lavages in AR patients, but failed to change the mean NCA activity for up to 40 min after the challenge. These results indicate that nasal secretions from both atopic and nonatopic patients express NCA, but its relation to allergic inflammation remains to be established.

Inflammation and the allergic response

The atopic diseases--allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic dermatitis--are chronic inflammatory diseases characterized by an exacerbating and remitting course and can only rarely be associated causally with allergen exposure. The challenge to ascribe an allergic basis to these diseases is derived from the apparent inability to reconcile these chronic inflammatory features with a process thought to be initiated by the rapid release of mediators after the interaction of allergen with IgE-coated mast cells. The traditional understanding has been that mast cell activation results in the release of a series of preformed and rapidly synthesized substances that mediate the immediate onset of vasodilatation, vascular leakage, smooth muscle contraction, and irritant nerve receptor stimulation. These mediators, however, are rapidly degraded and are not thought to be associated with a significant inflammatory component. Recent studies, however, have established that the interaction of allergen with the immune system is, in fact, far more complex (Fig. 4). In addition to mast cell activation, allergen can interact with and activate T-lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytic cells, leading to the secretion of cytokines and other inflammatory substances. Furthermore, the interaction of allergen with the mast cell may be far more complex, with the potential to stimulate the delayed release of newly synthesized cytokines. The interaction of allergen with the immune system also promotes the secondary release of inflammatory neuropeptides. Thus, the known spectrum of mediators released after allergen exposure has vastly been expanded. These include numerous still uncharacterized chemotactic and activating peptides; eicosanoids such as 5-HETE, 12-HETE, and leukotriene B4; platelet-activating factor; several proteases; neuropeptides and, most importantly, the cytokines. These mediators recruit and activate neutrophils, monocytes, basophils, and eosinophils, attract additional lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytic cells, and induce mast cell proliferation with further mast cell degranulation. A vicious cycle subsequently develops, with further inflammation and tissue destruction. Thus, the interaction of allergen with the immune system has become a complex cascade capable of producing the chronic inflammatory changes characteristic of allergic diseases.

Development of an animal model of late asthmatic response in guinea pigs and effects of anti-asthmatic drugs

We developed an animal model of late asthmatic response (LAR) in guinea pigs and examined the effects of anti-asthmatic drugs and peptide leukotriene antagonist, MCI-826, on this model. Bronchial challenge of DNP-As (Dinitrophenylated-Ascaris suum extract)-sensitized guinea pigs induced a biphasic increase in pulmonary resistance (RL) with the maximal increase being observed immediately (IAR, immediate asthmatic response) and 3 to 5 hr after antigen inhalation (LAR). Twelve of 22 guinea pigs showed both IAR and LAR. The average increases in RL for all 22 guinea pigs at IAR and LAR, were 168 +/- 13 and 207 +/- 16 (% of baseline value), respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of guinea pigs that received antigen, revealed increases in the numbers of eosinophils (7.3-fold compared to animals receiving saline) and neutrophils (5.3-fold compared to animals receiving saline) 4 hr after antigen inhalation. When DSCG (disodium cromoglycate) was administered (10 mg/kg, i.v.) before antigen challenge, DSCG significantly inhibited IAR (p less than 0.05) and slightly inhibited LAR (p less than 0.2). Theophylline (30 mg/kg, p.o.) administered before antigen, slightly inhibited both IAR and LAR (p less than 0.2). Salbutamol (3 mg/kg, i.p.) administered before antigen, significantly inhibited IAR (p less than 0.05), but did not affect LAR. These results were correlated with clinical trials. Moreover, peptide leukotriene antagonist, MCI-826, (E)-2,2-Diethyl-3'-[2-[2-(4- isopropyl)thiazolyl] ethenyl]succinanilic acid (0.1 mg/kg, p.o.) administered 1 hr before antigen challenge, significantly inhibited both IAR and LAR (p less than 0.05). MCI-826 (0.1 mg/kg, p.o.) administered 1.5 hr after antigen inhalation, also inhibited LAR (p less than 0.05). Analysis of BAL fluid revealed that DSCG and MCI-826 significantly inhibited the increase in eosinophils (p less than 0.05). These data suggest that leukotriene plays an important role in the development of the pathogenesis of LAR, and that our model is an useful experimental model for investigating the mechanisms of LAR and examining the effects of several anti-asthmatic drugs on LAR.

Reduction of increased serum neutrophil chemotactic activity following effective hyposensitization in house dust mite allergy

Changes in the level of serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (S-NCA) were investigated in 20 subjects with allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, undergoing clinically effective hyposensitization to house dust mite with Pharmalgen Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Two control groups were studied: 28 subjects with allergic rhinitis, with or without asthma, receiving placebo injections for 1 yr in a double-blind controlled trial with Pharmalgen D. pteronyssinus (from whom the actively treated group in this study were recruited), and eight non-atopic asymptomatic controls. S-NCA and serum IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus were measured in the subjects before, during (3-6 months) and 12 months after treatment, and once in the non-atopic controls. The mean S-NCA was significantly higher (0.01 greater than P greater than 0.001) in subjects before treatment (mean +/- s.e. = 63.8 +/- 3.6 arbitrary units of migration (AUM] compared with the non-atopic controls (48.5 +/- 3.7 AUM), but had fallen to normal levels after 6 months (46.8 +/- 4.0 AUM) and 12 months treatment (45.2 +/- 3.8 AUM). The levels of S-NCA in the placebo treated group were significantly higher than normal at the start of treatment (69.2 +/- 4.1) and remained raised throughout the 12 months treatment. In the actively treated group, the level of S-NCA had fallen in 18 out of 19 subjects after 12 months immunotherapy, and was unaltered in one. Mean levels of D. pteronyssinus IgE rose during the first 6 months and declined to initial levels by the end of the treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inflammatory mechanisms and nocturnal asthma

The results of recent research strongly suggest that airway inflammation, which may increase at night as a result of circadian troughs in blood epinephrine and cortisol concentrations, underlies the bronchial hyperresponsiveness that is almost certainly a major contributor to the pathogenesis of nocturnal asthma. This article reviews what is known about the nature and complex interactions of the inflammatory cells and mediators that may be involved in asthma, with particular emphasis on nocturnal asthma. The roles of platelet-activating factor antagonists, corticosteroids, and theophylline in suppressing this response also are discussed.

Circulating concentrations of histamine, neutrophil chemotactic activity, and catecholamines during the refractory period in exercise-induced asthma

Circulating mediators and catecholamine concentrations have been measured in eight subjects with asthma who were subjected to two bouts of cycle ergometer exercise separated by 1 hour. The maximum falls in FEV1 were 21.9 +/- 2.3% (mean +/- SEM; n = 8) and 5.5 +/- 1.3% (mean +/- SEM; n = 8) after the first and second exercises, respectively. Serum neutrophil chemotactic activity (NCA) and plasma histamine and catecholamine levels in venous blood were measured with a microchemotaxis and two radioenzymatic techniques, respectively. There was a significant increase in NCA and plasma histamine concentrations after both exercise challenges, and there was no significant difference in the release of these mediators between the two exercise tests. Gel filtration chromatography demonstrated that the NCA detected after the first and second exercise tests had molecular sizes of approximately 600,000 daltons. There was no significant time-dependent increase in plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine concentrations after either exercise task, even though the patients were refractory to exercise-induced asthma after the second exercise. These results suggest that the refractory period in exercise-induced asthma is not caused by mediator depletion, as indicated by NCA and histamine measurements, or by protection of the airways through catecholamine release.

The site of the defect in asthma. Neurohumoral, mediator or smooth muscle?

The nature of the underlying defect in asthma is still unclear. This article discusses where the primary problem might lie, starting with the assumption that it is likely to be in neurohumoral control, bronchial smooth muscle or cellular dysfunction with increased release of mediators. The weight of the evidence suggests that the latter is most likely. If true, the question of why this occurs still remains.

Occupational asthma in a hairdressing salon

Occupational asthma among hairdressers has been recognised for some years and cases of work related asthma due to hair bleaches containing persulphates and hair dyes have been reported. The extent of the disease among hairdressers remains unknown. An investigation was carried out on an entire hairdressing salon, which specialised in hair bleaching and colouring and which employed 23 staff. On the basis of history and specific and non-specific bronchial provocation testing, four out of 23 staff were found to have occupational asthma due to the persulphate salts contained in hair bleaches. Only one of these had a positive skinprick test response to persulphate salts. Tests for non-specific bronchial reactivity to histamine in this work force were more sensitive for the diagnosis of asthma than simple lung function tests or recordings of peak flow rates performed four times daily for three weeks. The response to these agents was studied in greater detail by specific bronchial provocation tests in 14 members of the salon as well as one hairdresser from elsewhere with occupational asthma, three individuals with non-occupational asthma, and four normal subjects. Only those with a history of work related asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity responded positively, confirming that the response to bleach powders was specific. Studies of pulmonary mechanics after challenge showed that the response arose from changes in airway calibre not lung volumes. Measurement of neutrophil chemotactic activity after challenge showed significant rises in those affected, suggesting that mast cells may play a part in the pathogenesis of occupational asthma due to persulphates.

Properties of a high molecular weight neutrophil chemotactic factor, possibly derived from mast cells: evidence for chemokinetic rather than chemotactic activity

Kay and his colleagues [1] have suggested that the neutrophil high molecular weight chemotactic factor ( NCF ) found in the serum of patients suffering from a variety of allergic diseases is mainly derived from mast cells and is therefore an indicator of mast cell activation. We have studied some of the properties of NCF obtained from patients with atopic extrinsic asthma and compared it with N-formyl-1-methionyl-1-leucyl-1-phenyl-alanine (FMLP), a chemotactic peptide [2]. A number of differences between FMLP and NCF were observed. In contrast to FMLP, checkerboard analysis showed that NCF caused random migration of neutrophils. In addition microscopic analysis of neutrophil locomotion in response to FMLP demonstrated the characteristic pseudopod formation. Furthermore, it was found that in contrast to FMLP, NCF did not cause the release of lysosomal enzymes from cytochalasin B-treated neutrophils. These results suggest that NCF has chemokinetic rather than chemotactic properties.