Lipoxin A4 levels in asthma: relation with disease severity and aspirin sensitivity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Lipoxin (LX) A4, an endogenous anti-inflammatory eicosanoid, has been found to be low in patients with severe asthma. However, few studies also suggested more diminished LX A4 levels in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) when compared with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA). It is, therefore, currently not clear whether the asthma severity or the presence of AERD has a primary role in the disturbed LX metabolism.

OBJECTIVE:

To detect LX A4 and 15-epi-LX A4 levels in asthma patients with and without AERD of comparable severity.

METHODS:

The study groups consisted of 22 subjects with AERD, 22 subjects with ATA and 10 volunteers without asthma and aspirin sensitivity. Whole-blood samples were stimulated with calcium ionophore, A23187 (5 x 10(-5) m) and A23187 (5 x 10(-5) m)+aspirin (10(-4) m). LX A4 and 15-epi-LX A4 levels were analysed by the enzyme immune assay method.

RESULTS:

Severe asthma patients in both AERD [0.5 (0.8)] ng/mL and ATA [0.5 (0.45) ng/mL] groups showed diminished generation for LX A4 to stimulation with A23187 in comparison with other severity degrees in their groups (P=0.02 and 0.046, respectively). LX A4 generation in both severe groups was comparable with each other (P>0.05). Although severe cases with AERD showed a diminished capacity to generate 15-epi-LX A4, this did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION:

This study indicated that diminished LX A4 generation was unique to severe asthma phenotype regardless of comorbid aspirin sensitivity. Clinical Implications Lower LX A4 levels in severe asthma would suggest a possibility for LX analogues as future treatment options in these patients.

• Authors: G E Celik, F O Erkekol, Z Misirligil, M Melli
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 37 Issue 10 Pg. 1494-501 (Oct 2007) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 17883729 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Lipoxins
• lipoxin A4
• Aspirin

Topics

• Adult
• Aspirin (adverse effects)
• Asthma (complications, diagnosis)
• Drug Hypersensitivity (complications, diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Lipoxins (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index