IMAGING REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN ASTHMA

Inflammatory processes in asthma are characterized by an infiltration of inflammatory cells including mononuclear phagocytes. It has been ob served that mononuclear phagocytes, alveolar macrophages and blood mon ocytes, release higher quantities of reactive oxygen species in asthma tic patients than in healthy subjects. Chemiluminescence assays were d eveloped to measure the superoxide anion and the other reactive oxygen species. The chemiluminescence response was first analysed with a lum inometer, which made it possible to study cells in suspension before a nd after PMA-stimulation. Secondly a video-imaging camera was used in experiments on adherent cells before and after stimulation with PMA an d/or specific stimulus IgE/anti-lgE. Both techniques showed that human alveolar macrophages, blood monocytes, PMN and lymphocytes were spont aneously primed in vivo and were more easily stimulated in asthma. Ana lysis of adherent cells in vitro may provide give information on the p hysiological condition of adherent cells in vivo.