Endogenous glucocorticoids and antigen-induced acute and late phase pulmonary responses

Background Several studies suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids can dampen the severity of experimental allergic reactions in animals. Objective To investigate the influence that endogenous glucocorticoids have on the course of IgE‐mediated pulmonary early and late phase reactions. Methods Twenty...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical and experimental allergy 2000-09, Vol.30 (9), p.1257-1265
Main Authors: PEEBLES, R. S, TOGIAS, A, BICKEL, C. A, DIEMER, F. B, HUBBARD, W. C, SCHLEIMER, R. P
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
allergen challenge
Allergic diseases
Antigens - immunology
asthma
Asthma - blood
Asthma - immunology
Asthma - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Bronchial Provocation Tests
Bronchoconstriction
bronchospasm
Cortisone - blood
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
glucocorticoids
Humans
Hydrocortisone - blood
Immunopathology
late phase response
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Respiratory and ent allergic diseases
Respiratory Mechanics
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Summary:Background Several studies suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids can dampen the severity of experimental allergic reactions in animals. Objective To investigate the influence that endogenous glucocorticoids have on the course of IgE‐mediated pulmonary early and late phase reactions. Methods Twenty‐one allergic asthmatic and six healthy control subjects underwent inhaled antigen challenge with measurements of plasma cortisol and cortisone by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry. Results There were no differences between the asthmatic and control groups in the baseline levels of cortisol or cortisone. However, the asthmatic subjects had significantly higher cortisol levels (67.2 ± 8.6 vs 35.1 ± 4.5 ng/mL; P = 0.04) and had higher cortisol/cortisone ratios (4.8 ± 0.6 vs 3.0 ± 0.2; P = 0.01) 8 h after challenge compared to the control subjects. Among the asthmatic subjects, those whose FEV1 recovered rapidly had higher baseline levels of cortisol and those who displayed a late phase reaction had lower levels of cortisol during the late phase period. Conclusion The results suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids may play a significant role in the modulation of airway responses to antigen challenge, and that antigen challenge may induce cortisol production in allergic subjects.
ISSN:0954-7894
1365-2222
DOI:10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00890.x