A selective antagonist of histamine H₄ receptors prevents antigen-induced airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction in guinea pigs:involvement of lipocortin-1

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Among the pathogenic mechanisms of asthma, a role for oxidative/nitrosative stress has been well documented. Recent evidence suggests that histamine H₄ receptors play a modulatory role in allergic inflammation. Here we report the effects of compound JNJ 7777120 (JNJ), a selective H4 receptor antagonist, on antigen-induced airway inflammation, paying special attention to its effects on lipocortin-1 (LC-1/annexin-A1), a 37 kDA anti-inflammatory protein that plays a key role in the production of inflammatory mediators.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Ovalbumin (OA)-sensitized guinea pigs placed in a respiratory chamber were challenged with antigen. JNJ (5, 7.5 and 10 mg.kg⁻¹) was given i.p. for 4 days before antigen challenge. Respiratory parameters were recorded. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was collected and lung specimens taken for further analyses 1 h after antigen challenge. In BAL fluid, levels of LC-1, PGD2 , LTB4 and TNF-α were measured. In lung tissue samples, myeloperoxidase, caspase-3 and Mn-superoxide dismutase activities and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine levels were measured.

KEY RESULTS: OA challenge decreased LC-1 levels in BAL fluid, induced cough, dyspnoea and bronchoconstriction and increased PGD2 , LTB4 and TNF-α levels in lung tissue. Treatment with JNJ dose-dependently increased levels of LC-1, reduced respiratory abnormalities and lowered levels of PGD2 , LTB4 and TNF-α in BAL fluid.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Antigen-induced asthma-like reactions in guinea pigs decreased levels of LC-1 and increased TNF-α and eicosanoid production. JNJ pretreatment reduced allergic asthmatic responses and airway inflammation, an effect associated with LC-1 up-regulation.

Pungent general anesthetics activate transient receptor potential-A1 to produce hyperalgesia and neurogenic bronchoconstriction

BACKGROUND: Volatile anesthetics such as isoflurane and halothane have been in clinical use for many years and represent the group of drugs most commonly used to maintain general anesthesia. However, despite their widespread use, the molecular mechanisms by which these drugs exert their effects are not completely understood. Recently, a seemingly paradoxical effect of general anesthetics has been identified: the activation of peripheral nociceptors by irritant anesthetics. This mechanism may explain the hyperalgesic actions of inhaled anesthetics and their adverse effects in the airways. METHODS: To test the hypothesis that irritant inhaled anesthetics activate the excitatory ion-channel transient receptor potential (TRP)-A1 and thereby contribute to hyperalgesia and irritant airway effects, we used the measurement of intracellular calcium concentration in isolated cells in culture. For our functional experiments, we used models of isolated guinea pig bronchi to measure bronchoconstriction and withdrawal threshold to mechanical stimulation with von Frey filaments in mice. RESULTS: Irritant inhaled anesthetics activate TRPA1 expressed in human embryonic kidney cells and in nociceptive neurons. Isoflurane induces mechanical hyperalgesia in mice by a TRPA1-dependent mechanism. Isoflurane also induces TRPA1-dependent constriction of isolated bronchi. Nonirritant anesthetics do not activate TRPA1 and fail to produce hyperalgesia and bronchial constriction. CONCLUSIONS: General anesthetics induce a reversible loss of consciousness and render the patient unresponsive to painful stimuli. However, they also produce excitatory effects such as airway irritation and they contribute to postoperative pain. Activation of TRPA1 may contribute to these adverse effects, a hypothesis that remains to be tested in the clinical setting.

Exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in elite long-distance runners in Brazil

Objective: To determine the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction among elite long-distance runners in Brazil and whether there is a difference in the training loads among athletes with and without exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving elite long-distance runners with neither current asthma symptoms nor a diagnosis of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. All of the participants underwent eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea challenge and maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests, as well as completing questionnaires regarding asthma symptoms and physical activity, in order to monitor their weekly training load. Results: Among the 86 male athletes recruited, participation in the study was agreed to by 20, of whom 5 (25%) were subsequently diagnosed with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. There were no differences between the athletes with and without exercise-induced bronchoconstriction regarding anthropometric characteristics, peak oxygen consumption, baseline pulmonary function values, or reported asthma symptoms. The weekly training load was significantly lower among those with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction than among those without. Conclusions: In this sample of long-distance runners in Brazil, the prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction was high.

Cough and dyspnea during bronchoconstriction: comparison of different stimuli

Abstract Background Bronchial challenge tests are used to evaluate bronchial responsiveness in diagnosis and follow-up of asthmatic patients. Challenge induced cough has increasingly been recognized as a valuable diagnostic tool. Various stimuli and protocols have been employed. The aim of this study was to compare cough and dyspnea intensity induced by different stimuli. Methods Twenty asthmatic patients underwent challenge tests with methacholine, bradykinin and exercise. Cough was counted during challenge tests. Dyspnea was assessed by modified Borg scale and visual analogue scale. Statistical comparisons were performed by linear mixed-effects model. Results For cough evaluation, bradykinin was the most potent trigger (p < 0.01). In terms of dyspnea measured by Borg scale, there were no differences among stimuli (p > 0.05). By visual analogue scale, bradykinin induced more dyspnea than other stimuli (p ≤ 0.04). Conclusion Bradykinin seems to be the most suitable stimulus for bronchial challenge tests intended for measuring cough in association with bronchoconstriction.

Effect of induced airway inflammation in asthma : the expression of trefoil factors, secretoglobins and genes involved in histone acetylation

Asthma is an incapacitating disease of the respiratory system, which causes extensive morbidity and mortality worldwide. Asthma affects more than 300 million people globally(Masoli et al. 2004). In Australia, it affects 10.2% of the population (Masoli et al. 2004) and causes 60,000 people to be hospitalised annually. Health care expenditure due to asthma in Australia was $606 million in 2004–2005. There are four primary biological factors that function in the initiation and exacerbation of asthma. Airway inflammation is important as it is often the first response to an airway insult, initiating the three other components: bronchoconstriction, mucus hyper-secretion and hyper-reactivity. The mediators involved in asthma are still not well understood, and current anti-inflammatory corticosteroid treatments are not effective with all asthmatics. As there is currently no cure for asthma, and airway inflammation is the primary component of the disease, it is important that we understand and investigate the mediators of airway inflammation to look for a potential cure and to produce better therapeutics to treat the inflammation. Trefoil factors (TFFs) and secretoglobins (SCGBs) are small secreted proteins involved in the mediation of inflammation and epithelial restitution. TFFs are pro-inflammatory and SCGBs anti-inflammatory by nature. The hypothesis of this study is that in response to induced acute airway inflammation, the expression of TFF1 and TFF3 will increase and expression of SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2 will decrease in non-asthmatics (N-A), asthmatics medicating with bronchodilators (A-BD) and asthmatics medicating with corticosteroids (A-ST). When comparing the three groups, we expect to see higher expression of the TFFs in the A-BD group compared to the N-A and A-ST groups, indicating that inflammation is mediated by TFFs in asthma and that corticosteroid medication controls their expression as part of the control of inflammation. We expect to see the opposite with SCGBs, with a greater decrease in the A-BD group compared to the other two groups, suggesting that the A-BD group has the least anti-inflammatory activity in response to inflammatory insult. Epigenetic modification plays a role in the regulation of genes that initiate disease states such as inflammatory conditions and cancers. Histone acetylation is one such modification, which involves the acetylation of histones in chromatin by histone acetyltransferases (HATs). This increases the transcription of genes involved with inflammation or enrols histone deacetylases (HDACs) to down-regulate the transcription of inflammatory genes. These HATs and HDACs work in a homeostatic fashion; however, in the event of inflammation, increased HAT activity can stimulate further inflammation, which is believed to be the mechanism involved in some inflammatory diseases. This study hypothesises that in response to inflammation, the expression of HDACs (HDAC1-5) will decrease and the expression of HATs (NCOA1-3, HAT-1 and CREBBP) will increase in all groups. When comparing the expression between the groups, it was expected that a greater decrease in HDACs and a greater increase in HATs will be seen in the A-BD group compared to the other two groups. This would identify histone acetylation as a mechanism involved in the inflammatory condition of asthma and indicate that corticosteroids may treat the inflammation in asthma at least in part by controlling histone acetylation. The aim of the project was to compare the expression of inflammatory genes TFF1, TFF3, SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2, as well as to compare the gene expression of HDAC1-5, NCOA1-3, HAT-1 and CREBBP within and between N-A (n=15), A-BD (n=15) and A-ST (n=15) groups in response to inflammation. This was performed by collecting airway cells and proteins by sputum induction in three sessions. The sessions were coordinated into an initial baseline collection (SI-1), followed by a second session at least one week later (SI-2) and a third session, six hours after SI-2 to collect a sample containing the resultant acute inflammation caused in SI-2 (SI-3). Analysis of the SI-1 and SI-2 samples in all three groups had high amounts of variability between samples. The samples were taken at least one weak apart and the environmental stimuli on each participant outside of the testing sessions could not be controlled. For this reason, the SI-1 samples were not used for analysis; instead SI-2 and SI-3 samples were compared as they were same-day collections, reducing the probability of differences being due to anything other than the sputum induction. The gene expressions of the TFFs, SCGBs, HDACs and HATs were analysed using real-time PCR. Western blot analysis was performed to analyse the protein concentrations of the TFFs and SCGBs in secreted fractions of the sputum collection. Both the secreted and intracellular protein fractions collected from the sputum inductions for pre- and post-inflammation (SI-2, SI-3) samples of the N-A and A-BD groups were analysed using a proteomic method called iTRAQ. This allowed the comparison of the change in protein expression as a result of airway inflammation in each group. This technique was used as a discovery method to identify novel proteins that are modulated by induced acute airway inflammation. Any proteins of interest would then be further validated and used for future research. Inflammation was achieved in the SI-3 samples of the N-A group with a 21% unit increase in % neutrophils compared to SI-2 (p=0.01). The N-A group had a marked 5.5-fold decrease in HDAC1 gene expression in SI-3 compared to SI-2 (p=0.03). No differences were seen in any of the TFFs, SCGBs or any of the rest of the HDACs and HATs. Western blot data did not display any significant changes in the protein levels of the TFFs and SCGBs analysed. However, non-significant analysis of the data displayed increases in TFF1 and TFF3, and decreases in SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2 for the majority of SI-3 samples compared to SI-2. The A-BD group also presented a marked increase in neutrophils in the SI-3 samples compared to SI-2 (27% unit increase, p=0.04). The A-BD group had a significant increase in TFF3 and SCGB1A1 gene expression concomitant with induced acute airway inflammation. A 7.3-fold increase in TFF3 (p=0.05) in SI-3 indicated that TFF3 is linked to inflammation in asthmatics. A 2.8-fold increase in SCGB1A1 (p=0.03) indicated that this gene is also up-regulated, suggesting that this SCGB is expressed to try to combat induced acute airway inflammation. No significant changes were seen in any of the other genes analysed. Western blot data did not display any significant changes in the protein levels of the TFFs and SCGBs analysed. However, non-significant analysis of the data displayed an increase in TFF1 and TFF3, and a decrease in SCGB1A1 and SCGB3A2 in SI-3, similar to that seen in the N-A group. The A-ST group was different from the A-BD group, characterised by the use of inhaled corticosteroid medication to treat asthma symptoms. Inhaled corticosteroids are known to treat asthma symptoms through the control of inflammation. Therefore, it was expected that corticosteroid medication would also control the expression of TFFs, SCGBs, HATs and HDACs. Gene expression results only identified a 7.6-fold decrease in HDAC2 expression in SI-3 (p=0.001), which is proposed to be due to the up-regulation of HDAC2 protein that is known to be a function of corticosteroid use. Western blot data did not display any significant changes in the protein levels of the TFFs and SCGBs analysed. The gene expression in SI-2 and SI-3 in each group was compared. When comparing the A-BD group to the N-A group, a 9-fold increase in TFF3 (p=0.008) and a 34-fold increase in SCGB1A1 (p=0.03) were seen in the SI-3 samples. Comparisons of the A-ST group to the N-A group had an increased expression in SI-2 samples for HDAC5 (3.6-fold, p=0.04), NCOA2 (8.5-fold, p=0.04), NCOA3 (17-fold, p=0.01), HAT-1 (36-fold, p=0.003) and CREBBP (13-fold, p=0.001). The SI-3 samples in the A-ST group compared to the N-A group had increased expression for HDAC1 (6.4-fold, p=0.04), HDAC5 (5.2-fold, p=0.008), NCOA2 (9.6-fold, p=0.03), NCOA3 (16-fold, p=0.06), HAT-1 (41-fold, p<0.001) and CREBBP (31-fold, p=0.001). Comparisons of the A-ST group to the A-BD group had SI-2 increases in HDAC1 (3.8-fold, p=0.03), NCOA3 (4.5-fold, p=0.03), HAT-1 (5.3-fold, p=0.01) and CREBBP (23-fold, p=0.001), while SI-3 comparisons saw a decrease in HDAC2 (41-fold, p=0.008) and increases in HAT-1 (4.3-fold, p=0.003) and CREBBP (40-fold, p=0.001). Results showed that TFF3 and SCGB1A1 expression is higher in asthmatics than non-asthmatics and that histone acetylation is more active in the A-ST group than either the N-A or A-BD group, which suggests that histone acetylation activity may be positively correlated with asthma severity. The iTRAQ proteomic analysis of the secreted protein samples identified the SCGB1A1 protein and found it to be decreased in both the N-A and A-BD groups post-inflammation, but significantly so only in the A-BD group. Although no significant results were obtained from the western blot data, both groups displayed a decrease in SCGB1A1 concentration in SI-3 samples, suggesting a correlation with the proteomic data. Only 31 peptides were identified from the secreted samples. The intracellular iTRAQ analysis successfully identified 664 peptides, eight of which had differential expression in association with induced acute airway inflammation. Significant increases were seen in the A-BD group in SI-3 compared to SI-2 than in the N-A group in chloride intracellular channel protein 1, keratin-19, eosinophil cationic protein, calnexin, peroxiredoxin-5, and ATP-synthase delta subunit, while decreases were seen in cystatin-A and mucin-5AC. The iTRAQ analysis was only a discovery measure and further validation must be performed. In summary, the expression of TFFs and SCGBs differed between non-asthmatics and asthmatics. It is clear that TFF3 is active in the airway inflammation associated with asthma as indicated by an increase associated with inflammation in the A-BD group compared to the N-A group. Results for HDAC and HAT genes showed high HAT expression in the A-ST group compared to the N-A and A-BD groups, suggesting that histone acetyltransferases may be responsible for the characteristic unregulated inflammatory symptoms of asthmatics taking corticosteroids. Interestingly, corticosteroid medication did not seem to silence the expression of the analysed HAT genes, which indicates that corticosteroids may not control inflammation by direct regulation of HATs, but instead by competition, most probably with HDAC2 protein. As a discovery tool, iTRAQ is a potent method to both identify and compare the concentration of proteins between samples. The method is a powerful first step into the identification of novel proteins that are regulated in response to different treatments.

Smoothing out the breathlessness

An estimated one in 10 Australians has asthma. In 2010, the burden of disease for asthma was ranked 7th highest for the overall population in Australasia. A less well-known condition that also affects breathing, is vocal cord dysfunction (VCD). People with asthma and VCD can both present with similar symptoms such as coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing and throat tightness. Asthma and VCD attacks also share similar triggers such as breathing in lung irritants, exercising or having an upper respiratory infection. Asthma and VCD frequently coexist. They affect different parts of the respiratory system and appear to have separate aetiologies. Asthma is essentially a condition of airway inflammation, even though the most prominent clinical presentation is bronchoconstriction. which is responsible for symptoms such as wheezing and shortness of breath. The cause of VCD is not well understood, though the abnormal closing of the vocal cords during breathing does not appear to involve an immune reaction, or the lower airways...

Mast cell mediator release in nonasthmatic subjects after endobronchial adenosine challenge

Background: Adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) has been shown to cause bronchoconstriction in atopic subjects but to have no effect on nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects. Endobronchial AMP challenge has previously been shown to cause mast cell mediator release in asthmatic subjects, but it is unknown whether a similar response occurs in atopic nonasthmatic and nonatopic nonasthmatic control subjects who have no response to inhalation AMP challenge.

Objective: This study examined the change in mast cell–derived products after endobronchial saline challenge and AMP challenge in subjects with and without a positive inhalation response to AMP.

Methods: Inhalation challenge with AMP challenge was performed in normal, atopic nonasthmatic, and atopic asthmatic subjects. Levels of mast cell mediators were measured after endobronchial adenosine challenge and after placebo endobronchial saline challenge.

Results: There were significant increases in histamine, tryptase, protein, and prostaglandin D2 levels (P = .02, P = .02, P = .01, and P = .01, respectively) after AMP challenge compared with after saline challenge in nonatopic nonasthmatic subjects. There was no significant increase in any mediator in either of the other 2 groups.

Conclusion: This study suggests dissociation between mediator release and bronchoconstriction in response to AMP.

Adenosine induces histamine release from human bronchoalveolar lavage mast cells

Previous studies have shown that in vitro adenosine enhances histamine release from activated human lung mast cells obtained by enzymic dispersion of lung parenchyma. However, adenosine alone has no effect on histamine release from these cells. Given the evidence for direct activation of mast cells after endobronchial challenge with adenosine and previous studies indicating that mast cells obtained at bronchoalveolar lavage are a better model for asthma studies than those obtained by enzymic dispersion of lung tissue, the histamine-releasing effect of adenosine was examined on lavage mast cells. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was obtained from patients attending hospital for routine bronchoscopy (n = 54). Lavage cells were challenged with adenosine or adenosine receptor agonists (20 min, 37 degrees C) and histamine release determined using an automated fluorometric assay. Endogenous adenosine levels were also measured in lavage fluid (n = 9) via an HPLC method. Adenosine alone caused histamine release from ravage mast cells in 37 of 54 patients with a maximal histamine release of 20.56 +/- 2.52% (range 5.2-61 %). The adenosine receptor agonists (R)-N-6-(2-phenylisopropyl)adenosine, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamido-adenosine and CGS21680 also induced histamine release from lavage mast cells. Preincubation of lavage mast cells with the adenosine receptor antagonist xanthine amine congener caused significant inhibition of the response to adenosine (P = 0.007). There was an inverse correlation between endogenous adenosine levels in the lavage fluid and the maximal response to in vitro adenosine challenge of the lavage cells. The findings of the present study indicate a means by which adenosine challenge of the airways can induce bronchoconstriction and support a role for adenosine in the pathophysiology of asthma. The results also suggest that cells obtained from bronchoalveolar ravage fluid may provide the ideal model for the testing of novel, adenosine receptor, targeted therapies for asthma.

The Utility of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing in Difficult Asthma

Background: Unexplained persistent breathlessness in patients with difficult asthma despite multiple treatments is a common clinical problem. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPX) may help identify the mechanism causing these symptoms, allowing appropriate management.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients attending a specialist-provided service for difficult asthma who proceeded to CPX as part of our evaluation protocol. Patient demographics, lung function, and use of health care and rescue medication were compared with those in patients with refractory asthma. Medication use 6 months following CPX was compared with treatment during CPX.

Results: Of 302 sequential referrals, 39 patients underwent CPX. A single explanatory feature was identified in 30 patients and two features in nine patients: hyperventilation (n = 14), exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (n = 8), submaximal test (n = 8), normal test (n = 8), ventilatory limitation (n = 7), deconditioning (n = 2), cardiac ischemia (n = 1). Compared with patients with refractory asthma, patients without “pulmonary limitation” on CPX were prescribed similar doses of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) (median, 1,300 µg [interquartile range (IQR), 800-2,000 µg] vs 1,800 µg [IQR, 1,000-2,000 µg]) and rescue oral steroid courses in the previous year (median, 5 [1-6] vs 5 [1-6]). In this group 6 months post-CPX, ICS doses were reduced (median, 1,300 µg [IQR, 800-2,000 µg] to 800 µg [IQR, 400-1,000 µg]; P < .001) and additional medication treatment was withdrawn (n = 7). Patients with pulmonary limitation had unchanged ICS doses post CPX and additional therapies were introduced.

Conclusions: In difficult asthma, CPX can confirm that persistent exertional breathlessness is due to asthma but can also identify other contributing factors. Patients with nonpulmonary limitation are prescribed inappropriately high doses of steroid therapy, and CPX can identify the primary mechanism of breathlessness, facilitating steroid reduction.

Rôle des neutrophiles dans l'inflammation allergique associée au souffle chez le cheval, un modèle naturel d'asthme

Réalisé en cotutelle avec le Dr James G Martin de l'Université McGill (Meakins-Christie laboratories)

Remodelage du muscle lisse péribronchique dans l’inflammation respiratoire chronique

Le souffle chez les chevaux et l’asthme chez l’humain sont des maladies respiratoires qui partagent plusieurs caractéristiques, notamment des épisodes de bronchospasme et de détresse respiratoire dus à une inflammation pulmonaire inappropriée en réponse à une inhalation de substances antigéniques. Les manifestations cliniques incluent des efforts respiratoires augmentés, des sifflements et de la toux. Au niveau des voies respiratoires, on observe une augmentation du muscle lisse péribronchique, une fibrose sous épithéliale, une métaplasie/hyperplasie épithéliale et du mucus en quantité augmentée. L’augmentation du muscle lisse est particulièrement importante car elle n’affecte pas seulement le calibre basal des voies respiratoires, mais elle accentue l’obstruction respiratoire lors de bronchoconstriction. Ces changements sont regroupés sous le terme de « remodelage » et sont associés à un déclin accéléré de la fonction respiratoire chez les patients asthmatiques. Alors que les traitements actuels contrôlent efficacement le bronchospasme et relativement bien l’inflammation, leurs effets sur le remodelage sont mal connus. Dans le cadre de thèse, la réversibilité du remodelage musculaire péribronchique a été investiguée chez des chevaux atteints du souffle dans deux études longitudinales. Ces études, faites principalement sur du tissu pulmonaire prélevé par thoracoscopie, sont difficilement réalisables chez l’humain pour des raisons éthiques, ou chez d’autres animaux, car ceux-ci présentent rarement une inflammation de type asthmatique de façon spontanée. Les résultats démontrent que les chevaux atteints du souffle ont approximativement deux fois plus de muscle péribronchique que les chevaux sains d’âge similaire gardés dans les mêmes conditions, et que la prolifération des myocytes contribue à cette augmentation. Ils démontrent aussi qu’une stimulation antigénique relativement brève chez des chevaux atteints du souffle depuis plusieurs années n’accentue pas le remodelage, ce qui suggère que l’augmentation du muscle lisse atteint un plateau. Nous avons également montré que le remodelage du muscle lisse chez des chevaux adultes est partiellement réversible et que cette réversibilité peut être accélérée par l’administration de corticostéroïdes par inhalation. Il semble toutefois qu’une portion du remodelage chronique est irréversible puisque les corticostéroïdes ont accéléré la diminution du muscle mais sans toutefois mener à une amélioration plus marquée au terme de l’étude qu’avec une modification environnementale stricte. La diminution de trente pourcent observée sur un an paraît modeste mais elle démontre clairement, et pour une première fois, que le remodelage du muscle lisse présent chez des chevaux adultes malades depuis plusieurs années est au moins partiellement réversible.

Prevalencia del polimorfismo A(-444)c del gen LTC4 sintasa humano en controles sanos y pacientes pediátricos asmáticos en una muestra de la ciudad de Bogotá

El asma es un desorden inflamatorio crónico de la vía aérea, causado por procesos inflamatorios, broncoconstricción, mucosidad y edema. Actualmente se ha relacionado el gen LTC4 sintasa humano con susceptibilidad al asma, sobre el cual se ha documentado un polimorfismos bi-alélico en la región promotora donde el alelo C se ha relacionado con la severidad del cuadro clínico de la enfermedad. Objetivo: estimar las frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas del polimorfismo A(-444)C ubicado en la región Promotora del gen LTC4 Sintasa humano en controles sanos y pacientes pediátricos asmáticos sobre una muestra de la ciudad de Bogotá. Metodología: se analizaron 303 personas, la amplificación de la región de interés del gen LTC4 sintasa humano se realizó mediante la PCR obteniendo un producto de 258pb y restricción enzimática de los productos amplificados donde se obtuvo fragmentos de 199 pb para el alelo A y otro de 166pb para el alelo C. Resultados: en el presente estudio se obtuvo que la frecuencia del alelo A silvestre fue de 0.86 (85.5%) y del alelo C polimórfico del 0.14 (14.5%). No se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las frecuencias alélicas en las dos poblaciones de estudio, valor de p (0.295) En el presente estudio no se encontró asociación entre el alelo polimórfico y la severidad de la enfermedad. Palabras claves: asma, polimorfismo, gen LTC4 sintasa.

Expression and function of proteinase-activated receptor 2 in human bronchial smooth muscle

Trypsin and mast cell tryptase cleave proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) to induce alterations in contraction of airway smooth muscle that have been implicated in asthma in experimental animals. Although tryptase inhibitors are under development for treatment of asthma, little is known about the localization and function of PAR2 in human airways. We detected PAR2 expression in primary cultures of human airway smooth muscle cells using reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunofluorescence. The PAR2 agonists trypsin, tryptase, and an activating peptide (SLIGKV-NH2) stimulated calcium mobilization in these cells. PAR2 agonists strongly desensitized responses to a second challenge of trypsin and SLIGKV-NH2, but not to thrombin, indicating that they activate a receptor distinct from the thrombin receptors. Immunoreactive PAR2 was detected in smooth muscle, epithelium, glands, and endothelium of human bronchi. Trypsin, SLIGKV-NH2, and tryptase stimulated contraction of isolated human bronchi. Contraction was increased by removal of the epithelium and diminished by indomethacin. Thus, PAR2 is expressed by human bronchial smooth muscle where its activation mobilizes intracellular Ca2+ and induces contraction. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that PAR2 agonists, including tryptase, induce bronchoconstriction of human airway by stimulating smooth muscle contraction. PAR2 antagonists may be useful drugs to prevent bronchoconstriction.