Sulfidoleukotrienes Production in Blood Leukocytes Stimulated by Mite Allergen

Han, Man Yong; Cha, Kwang Eun; Nam, Seung Yeon; Lee, Kwang Shin; Koh, Young Jae; Ahn, Kang Mo; Lee, Sang Il

Abstract

PURPOSE
Although asthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood, accurate diagnosis in infants and young children remains challenging clinicians. Allergen challenging tests in vitro have been used productively as an investigative tool in studies of the pathophysiology and diagnosis of asthma. Therefore, we compared the sulfidoleukotrien (sLT) concentration according to allergen leukocyte stimulation test, in normal versus asthmatic patients, to find better diagnostic tools.
METHODS
From May through August, 1998, nine children were enrolled who presented positive skin reaction in Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.), Dermatophagoides farinae (D.f.) as patient groups. We measured total eosinophil count, serum IgE, sLT concentration of three different allergen stimulation (100 ng/ml, 10 ng/ml, 1 ng/ml).
RESULTS
sLT concentration in three different D.p., D.f. stimulation showed significant differences (P<0.01). Allergen concentration of 10 ng/ml was fit for stimulating peripheral leukocyte. The sLT concentration is correlated with IgE, total eosinophil count, but not with age. Actual concentrations of sLT was not measured in allergen stimulation test. Its interpretation of test results was complicated by the fact that several variants were involved in determining sampling time and appropriate sampling volume. Most importantly, the diagnostic sensitivity of the sLT concentration tests varies directly with the magnitude of IgE antibody and total eosinophil count.
CONCLUSION
We emphasizes the role of allergen challenge in understanding the pathophysiology of young children asthma. It focuses on more accurate diagnosis with objective techniques for analyzing the leukocyte sLT release to antigen.