Comparison of oxygen radical production by human eosinophils and neutrophils during asthmatic attacks

Abstract

In order to understand the role of cytoplasmic oxygen radicals in allergic reaction, we tested purified eosinophils and neutrophils obtained from patients with or without allergic attacks as well as from non-allergic controls. The test methods included luminol dependent chemiluminescence, superoxide anion production and hydrogen peroxide production. Stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced higher production of the oxygen radicals in eosinophils than in neutrophils of normal controls in all three parameters. Eosinophils of allergic subjects in stable conditions behaved indistinguishable from that of normal controls. However, eosinophils obtained from patients during attacks of bronchial asthma were more responsive than those from patients between attacks. Neutrophils of patients during or between attacks showed the same profiles. The results suggested that the oxygen radicals released from eosinophils may have a significant role to injure the tissue during the bronchial asthma attack.