Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: EC:6.2.1.7 (BAL)
 1,977 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Eosinophils are found in the blood and tissues of patients with allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and also atopic dermatitis. The number of eosinophils in the diseased tissue generally correlates with the expression of clinical symptoms. Originally, the eosinophil was regarded as having an exclusively protective role, for example in host defense against parasites. More recently, the eosinophil is recognized as being a pro-inflammatory cell that can mediate allergic disease. The eosinophil is active in inflammation through the release of granule proteins and the synthesis and release of inflammatory mediators. The important eosinophil granule proteins are major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), eosinophil derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO). These proteins have toxic effects on the surrounding tissue. Of additional importance for the allergic inflammatory reactions are membrane-derived mediators such as leukotriene C4 (LTC4), platelet activating factor (PAF) and Charcot-Leyden crystals. These mediators are synthesized and released after eosinophil activation, and act toxic on surrounding cells. Eosinophils are active in asthma, and increased numbers and eosinophil-derived mediator concentrations have been documented in bronchial biopsies, BAL and sputum. In addition, eosinophil granule proteins and inflammatory mediators are found in nasal secretions in allergic rhinitis. In atopic dermatitis one finds activated eosinophils and depositions of eosinophil granule proteins in skin biopsies. Eosinophils are not only active in mediating allergic inflammation, but interact in cellular networks with antigen presenting cells (APC), mast cells, and T lymphocytes. These other cells influence eosinophil maturation, mobilization, tissue localization and activation.
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PMID:[Eosinophilic granulocytes and their significance in allergic diseases]. 153 93

Fifteen asthmatic patients were prospectively selected. If they had more than 450 eosinophils in peripheral blood on admission to hospital treatment and if before BAL had been performed they were not treated by corticosteroids. No associated disease was found which could cause the increased number of eosinophils in peripheral blood except bronchial asthma. BAL was performed when the subjects tested had no dyspnea, usually 1-3 days after the hospital admission. In contrast to blood eosinophilia, increase of eosinophils number in BAL was found to correlate to impairment of clinically measured parameters such as: ventilation level of blood gases and duration of hospitalisation. On the contrary there was no correlation between the level of blood eosinophilia and gas disturbance and duration of hospitalisation. Eosinophilic proteins (MBP, ECP, EPX, EPO) are not the only that harmfully effect the lung cells in the asthmatic attack but the fact that their level in lavage fluid correlates to eosinophilia degree in BAL is evident so the correlation between the number of eosinophils in BAL and impairment of clinically measured parameters is clear.
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PMID:[Evidence of the harmful effects of eosinophils in bronchial asthma]. 221 19

To compare markers of inflammation in secretions obtained by sputum induction (SI), bronchial wash (50 ml instillate [BW]), and bronchoalveolar lavage (4 x 60 ml instillates [BAL]), we analyzed markers of inflammation in samples obtained by these methods in 10 healthy and 10 asthmatic subjects. Of the asthmatic subjects 8 had mild disease (FEV1, % of predicted > 75%). Within subjects from both groups, we found that sputum, compared with either BW or BAL, had higher numbers of nonsquamous cells (p = 0.0001) and higher levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) (p = 0.0001), albumin (p = 0.0001), and mucin-like glycoprotein (p = 0.0001). The eosinophil percentages and the ECP levels in sputum correlated more closely with those in BW (r = 0.67, p = 0.005; r = 0.69, p = 0.0008, respectively) than in BAL (r = 0.5, p = 0.03; r = 0.37, p = 0.11). Comparing the asthmatic and healthy subgroups, we found that eosinophil percentages were higher in sputum (p = 0.0003) and BW (p = 0.006) from asthmatic subjects and that ECP levels were higher in BW (p = 0.001) and BAL (p = 0.0005) from asthmatic subjects. We conclude that analysis of induced sputum reveals information qualitatively similar to that obtained by analysis of BW and BAL and that sputum induction is not only noninvasive and easily repeated but also yields samples more concentrated and richer in airway secretions than those obtained by bronchoscopy.
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PMID:Comparison of samples collected by sputum induction and bronchoscopy from asthmatic and healthy subjects. 759 62

At present there is some indirect evidence for increased nocturnal inflammation in patients suffering from nocturnal asthma: 1. Circulating eosinophil numbers and activation, as reflected by increased levels of ECP and EDN and low-density eosinophils, are increased at night. 2. Circulating histamine levels are increased at night. 3. Hyperresponsiveness to AMP at night is increased compared with hyperresponsiveness to methacholine. However, most results of various studies point to nocturnal asthma's being an expression of more severe asthma: 1. Both AMP and propranolol responsiveness, indirect measures of airway hyperresponsiveness, are lower both at 4:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. in asthmatics with nocturnal asthma than those without nocturnal asthma. 2. Patients with nocturnal asthma have higher circulating numbers of eosinophils at both 4:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. than those without nocturnal asthma, and eosinophil survival is not different at these times. 3. Patients with nocturnal asthma have higher PGD2 levels in BAL both at 4:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. than those without nocturnal asthma, but show no significant difference between levels at these two times. 4. Two studies have shown no difference in BAL eosinophil numbers and activation parameters at night in nocturnal asthma. 5. Histamine levels in BAL fluid are comparable day and night in patients with and without nocturnal asthma. 6. Inflammatory mediators in BAL are higher in asthmatic patients than in normal subjects, but are not different between patients with and without nocturnal asthma. Thus, patients with nocturnal asthmatic symptoms show an overall increased burden of mediators released from mast cells and other inflammatory cells. In conclusion, we feel that the term "nocturnal asthma" is misleading, in that it does not describe a unique entity in certain patients with asthma. We prefer, in view of the previous arguments, to consider nocturnal asthma a mere expression of more severe asthma. Thus we suggest the term "nocturnal asthma" be changed to "asthma with nocturnal symptoms."
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PMID:Inflammation in nocturnal asthma? 795

It has been known that eosinophilia in the peripheral blood or tissue participate in allergic inflammatory reactions and parasitic diseases. The function of eosinophils depend on the biological activity of the granule proteins. Four of these protein-MBP, ECP, EPO, and EDN have been known. There are some assumptions that the eosinophils might cause a tissue damage on examination of their specific protein. Therefore, the measurements of these granule proteins might clarify the pathogenesis of eosinophils related diseases. In this review, we introduce a convenient method for purification, quantitative measurement in serum, BAL and detection of localization in tissue by an immunofluorescence method for specific staining of eosinophil granule proteins.
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PMID:[The measurement of eosinophil granule proteins]. 849 49

Lung transplantation has become an accepted therapy for end-stage lung disease. Acute rejection of the transplanted hung still remains a major clinical problem since it decreases graft survival. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from activated eosinophils, hyaluronan (HYA) from fibroblasts, and circulating intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (1CAM-1) have been associated with acute rejection in kidney and liver grafts. We investigated whether these, as well as other molecules, were increased in acute rejection of lung allografts. Serum and BAL fluid from 38 bronchoscopies performed in 9 single lung, 2 bilateral lung, and 4 heart-lung transplant patients were studied. Differential cell counts were made from the BAL fluid. Levels of ECP, myeloperoxidase (MPO), and HYA were used as indirect markers for activation of eosinophils, neutrophils, and fibroblasts, respectively. In addition, levels of circulating ICAM-1, cVCAM-1, and cE-selectin were analyzed. Twenty-two episodes with acute rejection were diagnosed. Of these, 7 were minimal, 13 were mild, and 2 were of moderate character. We found increased levels of ECP and HYA in BAL fluid during mild acute rejection of the allograft. Numbers of eosinophils were also increased. Activation of neutrophils or neutrophil numbers were not significantly increased. Levels of circulating ICAM-1, cVCAM-1, and cE-selectin did not differ between the groups. This retrospective study shows that measurements of ECP and HYA can give information about the inflammatory process present during acute rejection in patients who have undergone lung transplants. Analysis of cCAMS, however, appears to be of limited value as markers for acute rejection.
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PMID:Activation of eosinophils and fibroblasts assessed by eosinophil cationic protein and hyaluronan in BAL. Association with acute rejection in lung transplant recipients. 868 73

The severity of asthma can be graded from mild intermittent to severe persistent. Airway inflammation is a feature of persistent asthma. We compared several markers of inflammation in mucosal biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL fluid) from 12 healthy control subjects, 24 patients with intermittent asthma, and 18 patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. Epithelial shedding, eosinophil (EG2-positive cells), and activated T-cell (UCHL1) counts in biopsies, and ECP levels in BAL fluids were significantly increased in patients with intermittent asthma by comparison with control subjects and this increase was significantly greater for patients with persistent asthma. Alveolar macrophage activation (percentage of hypodense cells) and the thickness of the basement membrane were significantly increased in asthmatic subjects as compared with controls but there was no difference between the two asthmatic groups. Hyaluronic acid levels in BAL fluids were significantly increased in patients with persistent asthma by comparison with control subjects and patients with intermittent asthma. Mast cell numbers (toluidine blue) in biopsies and histamine or levels in BAL fluids were similar in the three groups. This study shows that airways inflammation is present in patients with intermittent asthma but to a lesser extent than in patients with persistent asthma.
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PMID:Airway inflammation in mild intermittent and in persistent asthma. 947 50

Levels of cell products released by neutrophils, eosinophils and lymphocytes were measured in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of 19 patients with pulmonary active Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) to assess in vivo the magnitude of cellular activation at sites of active disease. Measurements included the BAL cell profile and BALF levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO), free proteinase 3 (fPR3), complexes of PR3 and alpha1-antitrypsin (PR3/alpha1-AT), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), peroxidase activity (PEROX), and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R). Six patients also underwent a repeat examination after immunosuppressive treatment. Pulmonary active WG was found to be associated with elevated MPO, PEROX, ECP, and sIL-2R levels in BALF. Only trace amounts of fPR3 were detected, the bulk of PR3 being found in PR3/alpha1-AT complexes. Clinically effective treatment depressed BAL neutrophil counts and reversed elevated levels of MPO and PEROX but had an inconsistent effect on the BAL lymphocyte count and the sIL-2R level. In conclusion, the elevated levels of extracellular MPO and PEROX at a site of active disease and the correlation between these and clinical disease activity support the view that neutrophils are indeed an important effector cell population in WG lung disease. The present data also suggest that oxidative injury is an important aspect of neutrophil-mediated lung injury, whereas it remains unresolved whether the low levels of fPR3 in the BALF adequately reflect the situation at inflammatory tissue sites.
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PMID:Activation of neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes in the lower respiratory tract in Wegener's granulomatosis. 1067 77

Pathogenic mechanisms of mycoplasmal pneumonia is not fully understood at present though some kind of cell-mediated hypersensitivity is closely related to its mechanisms. Though eosinophilia in peripheral blood are sometimes revealed in patient with mycoplasmal pneumonia, it is not unclear whether eosinophils related to its pathogenesis, or not. We evaluated the clinical significance of ECP in serum and BAL fluid in patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia. The diagnosis of mycoplasmal pneumonia was confirmed both by serological diagnosis from paired serum and by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods using specific primers of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae for detecting specific DNA from bronchial washing fluids. ECP level in serum were measured in 27 patients (11 male, 16 female, average age 31.7 yo) with mycoplasmal pneumonia by ELISA methods. ECP level in BALF were also measured in ten of all patients. The level of ECP in serum was high in 17 cases (63%) of the total cases. In addition the level of ECP in BALF was also high in all tested patients (10 cases). There was a correlation between serum ECP level and days from onset. There was also a correlation between serum ECP level and WBC counts, the degree of PaO2. These results suggested that ECP derived from activated eosinophils in the lung might in part play a role in the pathogenesis of mycoplasmal pneumonia.
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PMID:[Clinical significance of eosinophilic cationic protein in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of adult patients with mycoplasmal pneumonia]. 1121 84

Although studies examining the serum suggest a role for eosinophils in wheezing episodes in infants and toddlers, the presence of a chronic eosinophilic inflammation within their airways remains to be demonstrated. In this study we investigated whether eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels are increased in BAL fluid (BALF) from infants and toddlers with recurrent wheezing episodes, during an asymptomatic period. The levels of ECP in BALF were quantitated by radioimmunoassay in 61 children (36 with severe recurrent episodes of wheezing and 25 who were non-wheezy), aged 6-36 months, in whom flexible bronchoscopy was clinically indicated. BALF eosinophil counts were < or = 1% in all patients and did not differ in wheezers, compared to non-wheezers. In contrast, ECP levels in BALF were > or = 2.2 micrograms/l in 18 of 36 (50%) wheezy infants but in only three of 25 (12%) control infants (p < 0.01). Neutrophil counts were significantly higher in the wheezer group than in the non-wheezer group (8.1 x 10(3) cells/ml vs. 3.0 x 10(3) cells/ml). ECP levels in the BALF were not correlated with the absolute number of eosinophils (r = 0.03; p = 0.8) but were correlated with the absolute number of neutrophils (r = 0.54; p = 0.001). There was no association between high ECP levels in BALF and the atopic status of the wheezers. In conclusion, ECP levels are increased in BALF from young children with recurrent wheezing episodes, even during relatively quiescent periods, suggesting a chronic increased cell activation in the lower airways.
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PMID:Increased eosinophil cationic protein levels in bronchoalveolar lavage from wheezy infants. 1133 88


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