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a Department of
Internal Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Seogu
Marukdong 120-1, Kwangju, Korea 502-157, b Department
of Internal Medicine, Chonnam University Medical School, Kwangju, Korea, c Department of Pathology
Correspondence to: Dr A-S Jang email: jas877{at}chollian.net
Received 6 September 1999; Returned to authors 11 November 1999; Revised version received 17 December 1999; Accepted for publication 20 January 2000
BACKGROUND
Eosinophils
play a pivotal role in asthmatic airway inflammation. Apoptosis is
thought to be critically relevant in promoting the clearance of
inflammatory cells and the resolution of inflammation. Bcl-2 inhibits
apoptosis in cellular systems. A study was undertaken to determine
whether bcl-2 expression in sputum reflects the clinical severity of
patients with asthma. The relationship between bcl-2 expression in
sputum eosinophils and eosinophil activation markers such as
interleukin (IL)-5 and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in
sputum supernatant was evaluated.
METHODSSputum
was obtained from 18 patients with asthma. Fresh expectorated sputum
separated from saliva was treated with an equal volume of
dithiothreitol 0.1%, cytospun for cell differentials and bcl-2 stain,
and the supernatant was collected for biochemical assay. Bcl-2+
eosinophils were stained using immunocytochemistry, ECP was
measured by fluoroimmunoassay, and IL-5 was detected by sandwich enzyme
linked immunosorbant assay.
RESULTSTwelve
patients with severe or life threatening asthma had more bcl-2+
eosinophils (mean difference 46.8% (95% CI 27.0 to 66.6), p<0.01)
and a higher ECP level (p<0.01) in the sputum than those with mild to
moderate asthma (n = 6). IL-5 was frequently detected in patients with
severe or life threatening asthma (11/12 versus 1/6, p<0.01). There
was a significant positive correlation between bcl-2+ eosinophils and
ECP levels (r = 0.61, p<0.01)
and between bcl-2+ eosinophils and IL-5 levels
(r = 0.83, p<0.01). There was
a significant negative correlation between bcl-2+ eosinophils and
FEV1/FVC (r = -0.54, p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONThe
increased expression of bcl-2 in eosinophils from sputum of subjects
with severe asthma suggests that bcl-2 may prolong survival and
decrease apoptosis of airway eosinophils in asthma.
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  C.J.A. Duncan, A. Lawrie, M.G. Blaylock, J.G. Douglas, and G.M. Walsh Reduced eosinophil apoptosis in induced sputum correlates with asthma severity Eur. Respir. J., September 1, 2003; 22(3): 484 - 490. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 C.-Y. Ho, C.-K. Wong, F. W.-S. Ko, C. H.-S. Chan, A. S.-S. Ho, D. S.-C. Hui, and C. W.-K. Lam Apoptosis and B-Cell Lymphoma-2 of Peripheral Blood T Lymphocytes and Soluble Fas in Patients With Allergic Asthma Chest, November 1, 2002; 122(5): 1751 - 1758. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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 G. Dewson, G. M. Cohen, and A. J. Wardlaw Interleukin-5 inhibits translocation of Bax to the mitochondria, cytochrome c release, and activation of caspases in human eosinophils Blood, October 1, 2001; 98(7): 2239 - 2247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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