Adenosine level in exhaled breath increases during exercise-induced bronchoconstriction

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Abstract
In asthmatic patients, airway obstruction provoked by exercise challenge is accompanied by an increase in plasma adenosine level. In this study, the current authors investigated if exercise-induced bronchoconstriction was associated with local changes of adenosine concentration in the airways.Oral exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collection (5-min duration) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measurements were performed at rest (baseline) and 4–8 times after treadmill exercise challenge in healthy and asthmatic subjects. Adenosine concentration in EBC was determined by HPLC.Observations indicated that physical exercise results in bronchoconstriction together with a significant increase of adenosine level in EBC in asthmatic patients (mean±sdmaximal fall in FEV127±13%; associated increase in adenosine 110±76% as compared to baseline), but not in healthy control subjects. Exercise-induced changes in adenosine concentration correlated significantly with the fall in FEV1values in asthmatic patients.In conclusion, the observed increase in adenosine concentration of oral exhaled breath condensate most probably reflects changes in the airways during exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. Due to its known bronchoconstrictor property in asthma, adenosine may contribute to the development of bronchospasm.