INFLAMMATORY CELLS AND MEDIATORS IN NASAL SECRETIONS DURING EARLY RESPONSE TO RAGWEED CHALLENGE - CORRELATION BETWEEN TYPE OF CELLULAR INFLUX AND MEDIATOR RELEASE

The early and late phase responses in nasal tissues exhibit release of lipid-derived mediators, granule-associated mediators, and a mixed ce llular influx in separate nasal challenges. To explore this phenomenon further, concentrations of inflammatory mediators were measured along with characterization of cell influx during dose-dependent ragweed ch allenges. Ten allergic rhinitis subjects underwent two unilateral nasa l lavages using incremental 3-fold concentrations of short ragweed ant igen. Low doses of ragweed (0.016-0.114 units Amb a I) rarely induced cell influx (1/18 challenges), whereas moderate doses (0.432-1.3 units Amb a I) caused cell influxes in 7/18, and high doses (3.39-11.7 unit s Amb a I) resulted in cell influxes in 8/17. The eluent contained >50 % neutrophils in 7 challenges; >50% eosinophils in 3; and a mixed patt ern in 6. There was a significant association between the dose of anti gen and the level of histamine, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), and leukotrie ne C4/D4/E4 (LTC4/D4/E4). Challenges with an eosinophilic influx tende d to be associated with higher concentrations of mediators than neutro philic influes. Similar to the immediate skin response, the early alle rgic response in the nose demonstrated a cell influx with release of h istamine, PGD2, and LTC4/D4/E4. Nasal cellular inflammation, therefore , can occur within minutes of allergen exposure.