Monteseirín, J , Fernández-Pineda, I , CHACON FERNANDEZ, PEDRO JOSE, Vega, A , Bonilla, I , Camacho, MJ , Fernández-Delgado, L , Conde, J , Sobrino, F
No
J. Asthma
Article
Científica
0.975
0.518
01/01/2004
000225276500004
Background: Allergen-specific conjunctival challenge is a fruitful and complete tool in evaluating pathophysiological phenomena of allergic inflammation. After challenge, a significant neutrophil infiltrate occurred in allergic subjects. The primary (azurophilic) granules of neutrophils contain a variety of enzymes that might potentiate inflammation, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO). It is not known whether allergen-specific conjunctival challenge (ASCC) is able to elicit MPO release. We also investigated the possible role of immunotherapy (IT) in the release of MPO. Method: The groups studied included Dactylis glomerata-sensitive adult atopic patients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and healthy adult nonatopic volunteer controls. One group of allergic patients received no specific hyposensitization (not-IT allergic group). A second group of allergic patients had been immunotherapy-treated with Dactylis glomerata extract for the preceding three years and continued to receive a maintenance dose within the highest potency of the extract (IT-allergic group). ASCC with Dactylis glomerata was performed outside the pollen season in all subjects. Myeloperoxidase was assayed by MPO-enzyme immunoassay method. Results: Thirty minutes after challenge, myeloperoxidase levels in the non-immunotherapy allergic patients were significantly higher compared than in the healthy group (p<0.001). The levels of myeloperoxidase released in the immunotherapy allergic group were significantly lower than those in the nonimmunotherapy allergic group (p<0.001) and higher than those in nonallergic subjects (p<0.001). Conclusion: These results indicate that after ASCC there is a release of MPO. Our study suggests that immunotherapy actively modifies the release of MPO after ASCC.
allergy; rhinoconjunctivitis; neutrophils; mechanism; IgE-dependent; allergen; myeloperoxidase; release; ocular; conjunctiva; allergen challenge