Concentrations of cysteinyl leukotrienes in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of cats with experimentally induced asthma.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate changes in cysteinyl leukotriene (LT) concentrations in urine and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in cats with experimentally induced asthma.

ANIMALS:

19 cats with experimentally induced asthma and 5 control cats.

PROCEDURE:

Cats were sensitized to Bermuda grass or house dust mite allergen, and phenotypic features of asthma were confirmed with intradermal skin testing, evaluation of BALF eosinophil percentages, and pulmonary function testing. A competitive ELISA kit for LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 was used for quantitative analysis of LTs. Urinary creatinine concentrations and BALF total protein (TP) concentrations were measured, and urinary LT-to-creatinine ratios and BALF LT-to-TP ratios were calculated.

RESULTS:

Mean urinary LT-to-creatinine ratios did not differ significantly between control cats and allergen-sensitized cats before or after sensitization and challenge exposure with saline (0.9% NaCl) solution or allergen, respectively. In BALF the mean LT-to-TP ratio of control cats did not differ significantly before or after sensitization and challenge exposure with saline. Asthmatic cats had BALF LT-to-TP ratios that were significantly lower than control cats at all time points, whereas ratios for asthmatic cats did not differ significantly among the various time points.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE:

Although LTs were readily detectable in urine, no significant increases in urinary LT concentrations were detected after challenge in allergen-sensitized cats. Spot testing of urinary LT concentrations appears to have no clinical benefit for use in monitoring the inflammatory asthmatic state in cats. The possibility that cysteinyl LTs bind effectively to their target receptors in BALF and, thus, decrease free LT concentrations deserves further study.

• Authors: Carol R Norris, Kendra C Decile, Londa J Berghaus, Roy D Berghaus, William F Walby, Edward S Schelegle, Dallas M Hyde, Laurel J Gershwin
• Journal: American journal of veterinary research (Am J Vet Res) Vol. 64 Issue 11 Pg. 1449-53 (Nov 2003) ISSN: 0002-9645 [Print] United States
• PMID: 14620784 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Leukotrienes
• Leukotriene C4
• Leukotriene D4
• Leukotriene E4
• Cysteine

Topics

• Animals
• Asthma, Exercise-Induced (physiopathology, urine, veterinary)
• Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid (chemistry)
• Cat Diseases (physiopathology, urine)
• Cats
• Cysteine
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Leukotriene C4 (analysis)
• Leukotriene D4 (analysis)
• Leukotriene E4 (analysis)
• Leukotrienes (analysis, urine)