PRODUCTION OF DIACYLGLYCEROL AND ARACHIDONIC-ACID IN PERIPHERAL-BLOODMONONUCLEAR-CELLS FROM PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA AND HEALTHY CONTROLS

Background: Enhanced activities of peripheral blood cells are a common characteristic of patients with asthma. Objective: Here we tested whe ther this could be due to a dysfunction in one or more signal transduc tion systems. Methods: The production of 1,2-diacylglycerol (1,2-DAG) and arachidonic acid was compared in mononuclear blood cells from pati ents with asthma (n = 10) and healthy controls (n = 12). Results: Usin g three different stimuli (concanavalin A, aluminium fluoride or the c alcium ionophore A23187) no difference in the production of both 1,2-D AG and arachidonic acid could be found between patients and controls b efore allergen challenge. Concanavalin A-induced 1,2-DAG production co uld be inhibited completely in the presence of isoprenaline; concanava lin A-induced arachidonic acid production, partially. The inhibitory e ffect of adenylate cyclase activation on the production of 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid was identical in patients and controls. Following al lergen challenge, there was a tendency to an increased production of 1 ,2-DAG and arachidonic acid in controls, whereas in patients there was a tendency to a decreased production. Conclusions: Enhanced cellular activities found in patients with asthma are not caused by an intrinsi c dysfunction in production of 1,2-DAG and arachidonic acid.