Bronchial mucosal manifestations of atopy: a comparison of markers of inflammation between atopic asthmatics, atopic nonasthmatics and healthy controls

We studied the role of atopy, as defined by positive skin tests to common inhalant allergens, in allergic bronchial inflammation. Endobronchial biopsies were taken via the fibreoptic bronchoscope in 13 symptomatic atopic asthmatics, 10 atopic nonasthmatics, and 7 normals. The numbers of mast cells, identified in the submucosa by immunohistochemistry using the AA1 monoclonal antibody against tryptase, were no different between the three groups, but electron microscopy showed that mast cell degranulation, although less marked in atopic nonasthmatics, was a feature of atopy in general. The numbers of eosinophils, identified by immunohistochemical staining using the monoclonal anti-eosinophil cationic protein antibody, EG2, were greatest in the asthmatics, low or absent in the normals and intermediate in the atopic nonasthmatics. In both atopic groups eosinophils showed ultrastructural features of degranulation. Measurements of subepithelial basement membrane thickness on electron micrographs showed that the collagen layer was thickest in the asthmatics, intermediate in the atopic nonasthmatics and thinnest in the normals. The results suggest that airways eosinophilia and degranulation of eosinophils and mast cells, as well as increased subepithelial collagen deposition, are a feature of atopy in general and suggest that the degree of change may determine the clinical expression of this immune disorder.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. F. Thomsen, C. S. Ulrik, K. O. Kyvik, K. Larsen, L. R. Skadhauge, I. Steffensen, and V. Backer The Incidence of Asthma in Young Adults Chest, June 1, 2005; 127(6): 1928 - 1934. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Cruse, D. Kaur, W. Yang, S. M. Duffy, C. E. Brightling, and P. Bradding Activation of human lung mast cells by monomeric immunoglobulin E Eur. Respir. J., May 1, 2005; 25(5): 858 - 863. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C G Barnard, D I McBride, H M Firth, and G P Herbison Assessing individual employee risk factors for occupational asthma in primary aluminium smelting Occup. Environ. Med., July 1, 2004; 61(7): 604 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L Portengen, A Hollander, G Doekes, G de Meer, and D Heederik Lung function decline in laboratory animal workers: the role of sensitisation and exposure Occup. Environ. Med., November 1, 2003; 60(11): 870 - 875. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Barbato, G. Turato, S. Baraldo, E. Bazzan, F. Calabrese, M. Tura, R. Zuin, B. Beghe, P. Maestrelli, L. M. Fabbri, et al. Airway Inflammation in Childhood Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 2003; 168(7): 798 - 803. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. E. McParland, P. T. Macklem, and P. D. Pare Airway wall remodeling: friend or foe? J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2003; 95(1): 426 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Prieto, V. Gutierrez, S. Uixera, and J. M. Berto Effect of Cigarette Smoking on Airway Responsiveness to Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate in Subjects With Allergic Rhinitis Chest, April 1, 2003; 123(4): 993 - 997. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L.-P. Boulet Asymptomatic Airway Hyperresponsiveness: A Curiosity or an Opportunity to Prevent Asthma? Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2003; 167(3): 371 - 378. [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Prieto, S. Uixera, V. Gutierrez, and L. Bruno Modifications of Airway Responsiveness to Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate and Exhaled Nitric Oxide Concentrations After the Pollen Season in Subjects With Pollen-Induced Rhinitis* Chest, September 1, 2002; 122(3): 940 - 947. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Prieto, V. Gutierrez, and S. Uixera Exhaled Nitric Oxide and Bronchial Responsiveness to Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate in Subjects With Allergic Rhinitis* Chest, June 1, 2002; 121(6): 1853 - 1859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mahmudi-Azer, G. P. Downey, and R. Moqbel Translocation of the tetraspanin CD63 in association with human eosinophil mediator release Blood, May 13, 2002; 99(11): 4039 - 4047. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. DE MEER, D. HEEDERIK, and D. S. POSTMA Bronchial Responsiveness to Adenosine 5'-Monophosphate (AMP) and Methacholine Differ in Their Relationship with Airway Allergy and Baseline FEV1 Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 2002; 165(3): 327 - 331. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P G Gibson, M Fujimura, and A Niimi Eosinophilic bronchitis: clinical manifestations and implications for treatment Thorax, February 1, 2002; 57(2): 178 - 182. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Page, A. J. Ammit, J. L. Black, and C. L. Armour Human mast cell and airway smooth muscle cell interactions: implications for asthma Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, December 1, 2001; 281(6): L1313 - L1323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. G. GIBSON, J. L. SIMPSON, A. C. CHALMERS, R. C. TONEGUZZI, P. A. B. WARK, A. J. WILSON, and M. J. HENSLEY Airway Eosinophilia Is Associated with Wheeze But Is Uncommon in Children with Persistent Cough and Frequent Chest Colds Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 15, 2001; 164(6): 977 - 981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Togias Systemic Cross-talk between the Lung and the Nose Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2001; 164(5): 726 - 727. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.-J. BRAUNSTAHL, S. E. OVERBEEK, W. J. FOKKENS, A. KLEINJAN, A. R. MCEUEN, A. F. WALLS, H. C. HOOGSTEDEN, and J.-B. PRINS Segmental Bronchoprovocation in Allergic Rhinitis Patients Affects Mast Cell and Basophil Numbers in Nasal and Bronchial Mucosa Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 2001; 164(5): 858 - 865. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Prieto, V. Gutierrez, J. Linana, and J. Marin Bronchoconstriction induced by inhaled adenosine 5'-monophosphate in subjects with allergic rhinitis Eur. Respir. J., January 1, 2001; 17(1): 64 - 70. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. D. GREMBIALE, L. CAMPOROTA, S. NATY, C. M. E. TRANFA, R. DJUKANOVIC, and S. A. MARSICO Effects of Specific Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitic Individuals with Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., December 1, 2000; 162(6): 2048 - 2052. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. I. Blyth, T. F. Wharton, M. S. Pedrick, T. J. Savage, and S. Sanjar Airway Subepithelial Fibrosis in a Murine Model of Atopic Asthma . Suppression by Dexamethasone or Anti-Interleukin-5 Antibody Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., August 1, 2000; 23(2): 241 - 246. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G.-J. BRAUNSTAHL, A. KLEINJAN, S. E. OVERBEEK, J.-B. PRINS, H. C. HOOGSTEDEN, and W. J. FOKKENS Segmental Bronchial Provocation Induces Nasal Inflammation in Allergic Rhinitis Patients Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2000; 161(6): 2051 - 2057. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. S. ERJEFÄLT and C. G. A. PERSSON New Aspects of Degranulation and Fates of Airway Mucosal Eosinophils Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 1, 2000; 161(6): 2074 - 2085. [Full Text]

				I. A. Akers, M. Parsons, M. R. Hill, M. D. Hollenberg, S. Sanjar, G. J. Laurent, and R. J. McAnulty Mast cell tryptase stimulates human lung fibroblast proliferation via protease-activated receptor-2 Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, January 1, 2000; 278(1): L193 - L201. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. E. WENZEL, L. B. SCHWARTZ, E. L. LANGMACK, J. L. HALLIDAY, J. B. TRUDEAU, R. L. GIBBS, and H. W. CHU Evidence That Severe Asthma Can Be Divided Pathologically into Two Inflammatory Subtypes with Distinct Physiologic and Clinical Characteristics Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., September 1, 1999; 160(3): 1001 - 1008. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. KOHLHÄUFL, P. BRAND, G. SCHEUCH, T. S. MEYER, H. SCHULZ, K. HÄUSSINGER, and J. HEYDER Increased Fine Particle Deposition in Women with Asymptomatic Nonspecific Airway Hyperresponsiveness Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., March 1, 1999; 159(3): 902 - 906. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. K. Das, L. D. Davanzo, G. J. Poiani, P. G. Zazzali, A. T. Scardella, M. L. Warnock, and N. H. Edelman Variable Extrathoracic Airflow Obstruction and Chronic Laryngotracheitis in Gulf War Veterans Chest, January 1, 1999; 115(1): 97 - 101. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. J. FRANKLIN, R. TAPLIN, and S. M. STICK A Community Study of Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Healthy Children Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 1999; 159(1): 69 - 73. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				J. H. WILDHABER, G. L. HALL, and S. M. STICK Measurements of Exhaled Nitric Oxide with the Single-Breath Technique and Positive Expiratory Pressure in Infants Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 1999; 159(1): 74 - 78. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. WALLIN, T. SANDSTRÖM, M. SÖDERBERG, P. HOWARTH, B. LUNDBÄCK, G. DELLA-CIOPPA, S. WILSON, M. JUDD, S. HOLGATE, A. LINDBERG, et al. The Effects of Regular Inhaled Formoterol, Budesonide, and Placebo on Mucosal Inflammation and Clinical Indices in Mild Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., January 1, 1999; 159(1): 79 - 86. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D E Davies, R Djukanovic, and S T Holgate Application of functional genomics to study of inflammatory airways disease Thorax, January 1, 1999; 54(1): 79 - 81. [Full Text]

				V. Brusasco, E. Crimi, and R. Pellegrino Airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma: not just a matter of airway inflammation Thorax, November 1, 1998; 53(11): 992 - 998. [Full Text]

				C. TANG, J. M. ROLLAND, X. LI, C. WARD, R. BISH, and E. HAYDN WALTERS Alveolar Macrophages from Atopic Asthmatics, But Not Atopic Nonasthmatics, Enhance Interleukin-5 Production by CD4+ T Cells Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 1998; 157(4): 1120 - 1126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. S. THOMAS, J. WILKINSON, and S. T. HOLGATE The Candidate Region Approach to the Genetics of Asthma and Allergy Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., October 1, 1997; 156(4): S144 - S151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. LAPRISE and L.-P. BOULET Asymptomatic Airway Hyperresponsiveness: A Three-year Follow-up Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 1997; 156(2): 403 - 409. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. M. VIGNOLA, P. CHANEZ, A. M. CAMPBELL, F. SOUQUES, B. LEBEL, I. ENANDER, and J. BOUSQUET Airway Inflammation in Mild Intermittent and in Persistent Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., February 1, 1997; 157(2): 403 - 409. [Abstract] [Full Text]