ALTERED LEUKOCYTE RESPONSE IN RELATION TO THE BASIC ABNORMALITY IN CHILDREN WITH ASTHMA AND BRONCHIAL HYPERRESPONSIVENESS

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Abstract
The hypothesis that bronchial hyperresponsiveness in asthma is influenced not only by environmental but also by intrinsic cellular factors was studied. Leukocyte responsiveness in asthmatic children with high (group A) or low (group B) bronchial responsiveness and in healthy children (group C) was compared. Leukocyte responsiveness was assessed by (O2-) generation and histamine release after challenge with Ca ionophore A 12387 in the presence of Ca, and with deuterium oxide (D2O). Bronchial responsiveness was graded on the basis of response to inhaled histamine and exercise. The mean O2- generation and mean histamine release by the Ca ionophore A 12387 and Ca were significantly greater in the asthmatics than in the healthy subjects (P < 0.05). The mean histamine release, but not the mean O2- generation, was greater in group A than in group B (P < 0.025). After D2O challenge a significant difference was found in the mean O2- generation (P < 0.05) and the mean histamine release (P < 0.025) between asthmatic and healthy children. Between groups A and B, the mean histamine release but not the O2- generation was significantly different (P < 0.025). The O2- generation and histamine release were significantly correlated (r = 0.45, P < 0.01). There is a basic intracellular abnormality that causes increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness.