Chemiluminescence Values Research Articles

Influence of disease site and activity on peripheral neutrophil function in inflammatory bowel disease.

Reactive oxygen species, released by phagocytes, are involved in tissue injury in inflammatory bowel diseases. The aim of our study was to evaluate peripheral neutrophil function in patients with ulcerative colitis (N = 66) and Crohn's disease (N = 62) with respect to disease activity and extent, using chemiluminometry after three stimuli. Twenty-seven healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. Neutrophils from ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease patients had a significantly higher response than those from controls following phorbol myristate acetate (86.6 +/- 6.5, 173.8 +/- 11.9, 167.5 +/- 12.2 mV, P < 0.0001), formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (39.5 +/- 3.4, 41.3 +/- 2.7, 58.6 +/- 4.7 mV, P < 0.001), and zymosan (142.6 +/- 10.4, 223.7 +/- 8.9, 231.2 +/- 9.5 mV, P < 0.0001) administration. The increased response was observed during both active disease and remission. The highest chemiluminescence values were found in patients with active ulcerative pancolitis and ileal Crohn's disease. The activation of circulating neutrophils may indicate persistent intestinal inflammation or may be triggered by luminal factors even in the absence of symptoms.

Ethanol-Related Gastric Mucosal Damage: Evidence of a Free Radical-Mediated Mechanism and Beneficial Effect of Oral Supplementation with Bionormalizer, a Novel Natural Antioxidant

Twenty-two healthy teetotal volunteers underwent gastroscopy during which biopsy samples from the antrum and body were taken for chemiluminescence assay, routine histology, and for malonyldialdehyde, xanthine oxidase and glutathione determination. Subjects were divided into 2 groups which, in a double-blind fashion, were randomly and orally given either (a) Bionormalizer 9 g at bedtime and 3 h prior examination, or (b) flavored sugar 9 g as placebo. During the second gastroscopy 40 ml of 80% ethanol were sprayed perendoscopically. Gastroscopy with biopsy was repeated 60 min later. As compared to the placebo group, subjects given Bionormalizer showed significantly reduced gastric mucosal damage at endoscopy and the histological level. When considering the placebo group, ethanol administration brought about a significant increase in the luminol-amplified chemiluminescence response in gastric mucosa as compared to the baseline value which was correlated with the histological score. The mean chemiluminescence value in the Bionormalizer group was significantly lower than in the placebo group. Ethanol ingestion brought about a significant increase in xanthine oxidase and malonyldialdehyde together with a decreased glutathione concentration. Bionormalizer significantly prevented such changes. The present data suggest that the natural antioxidant Bionormalizer when given orally promotes an effective protection against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage.

Massive osteolysis of the mandibleReport of a case with multifocal bone loss

Osteolysis of the jaws has been reported in association with infection, cysts, neoplasia, and metabolic, endocrine, or hematologic abnormalities. Rare cases of idiopathic osteolysis have also been recorded. We report the case of a 10-year-old girl with mandibular basal and alveolar bone resorption that has continued over a period of 9 years. The patient has subsequently developed bilateral resorption of the ascending rami and condyles. The maxilla is uninvolved. Investigations included radiology, computerized tomography, scintigraphy, hematology, serum chemistry, endocrinology, histopathology, microbiology, and immunology. Neutrophil chemotaxis, chemiluminescence, and random migration values were low but within the normal range. These findings are interpreted as indicating an unusual variant of massive osteolysis. ( Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1999;87:357-61)

Effects of ginseng treatment on neutrophil chemiluminescence and immunoglobulin G subclasses in a rat model of chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa pneumonia.

Chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is almost impossible to eradicate with antibiotic treatment. In the present study, the effects of treatment with the Chinese herbal medicine ginseng on blood polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) chemiluminescence and serum specific antibody responses were studied in a rat model of chronic P. aeruginosa pneumonia mimicking CF. An aqueous extract of ginseng was administered by subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 25 mg/kg of body weight/day for 2 weeks. Saline was used as a control. Two weeks after the start of ginseng treatment, significantly increased PMN chemiluminescence (P </= 0. 001) and a decreased level in serum of immunoglobulin G (IgG) against P. aeruginosa (P < 0.05) were found. Furthermore, a higher IgG2a level (P < 0.04) but lower IgG1 level (P < 0.04) were found in the ginseng-treated infected group than in the control group. In the ginseng-treated group the macroscopic lung pathology was milder (P = 0.0003) and the percent PMNs in the cells collected by bronchoalveolar lavage was lower (P = 0.0006) than in the control group. However, the alveolar macrophage (AM) chemiluminescence values were not significantly different in the two groups infected with P. aeruginosa. The differences between the ginseng-treated noninfected rats and the control group (without P. aeruginosa lung infection) for the PMN chemiluminescence and AM chemiluminescence were not significant. These results suggest that ginseng treatment leads to an activation of PMNs and modulation of the IgG response to P. aeruginosa, enhancing the bacterial clearance and thereby reducing the formation of immune complexes, resulting in a milder lung pathology. The changes in IgG1 and IgG2a subclasses indicate a possible shift from a Th-2-like to a Th-1-like response. These findings indicate that the therapeutic effects of ginseng may be related to activation of a Th-1 type of cellular immunity and down-regulation of humoral immunity.

Interleukin-6 derived from hypoxic myocytes promotes neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury in myocardium

Background: Reperfusion injury in the myocardium has recently been considered to be a type of inflammation, and close attention has been paid to the possible involvement of neutrophils, complement, and cytokines in the onset of this injury. Recently, it has been reported that serum levels of interleukin-6 are elevated significantly after myocardial infarction. The major site of interleukin-6 production and its exact roles are still unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that myocytes may produce interleukin-6 during hypoxia and this may play a role in neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury. Methods and results: In the clinical study, 20 patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting were divided into 2 groups: group F, in which patients were treated with a serine protease inhibitor (FUT-175, 2 mg/kg per hour) during cardiopulmonary bypass, and group C (untreated patients). In group C, myocardial interleukin-6 production, as determined by the difference between the interleukin-6 level in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and its level in coronary venous blood, increased significantly after reperfusion (12 ± 4 pg/mL) as compared with that before aortic crossclamping (2 ± 2 pg/mL). In group F, the increase in the interleukin-6 level was suppressed significantly (before aortic crossclamping, 3 ± 2 pg/mL; after reperfusion, 4 ± 3 pg/mL). The interleukin-6 production differed significantly between group C and group F. In the in vitro experimental study, the supernatant from myocytes exposed to 2 hours of hypoxia (group 2H) showed significantly higher levels of interleukin-6 (455 ± 260 pg/mL) than that from normoxic myocytes (group N) (47 ± 15 pg/mL). This interleukin-6 production was suppressed by the addition of FUT-175 (123 ± 24 pg/mL). The interleukin-6 production by endothelial cells of coronary vessels did not differ between group 2H (283 ± 151 pg/mL) and group N (151 ± 86 pg/mL). In a coincubation system with a monolayer of endothelial cells on collagen membrane and myocytes under collagen membrane in a modified Boyden chamber, 2 hours of coincubation showed a significantly higher percent of neutrophil transendothelial migration (group 2H vs N, 78% ± 13% vs 26% ± 11%), value of chemiluminescence (22 ± 8 vs 5 ± 2 × 10 3 counts/3 minutes), and percent of irreversibly damaged myocytes (48% ± 17% vs 12% ± 8%) than normoxic coincubation. In contrast, anti–interleukin-6 monoclonal antibody significantly attenuated neutrophil transendothelial migration (42% ± 19%) and irreversible damage of myocytes (26% ± 15%) in 2 hours of coincubation. Conclusions: Interleukin-6 is produced from myocardium during ischemia and reperfusion in patients undergoing coronary bypass grafting. This interleukin-6 may be derived from hypoxic myocytes and play a role in neutrophil-mediated reperfusion injury in myocardium. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1998;116:511-7)

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE PRODUCED BY THE ACTIVATED POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN PHYSIOLOGICAL AND VARIOUS PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS

The chemiluminescent emission released by activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes has been known for a long time, but its clinical use is still scarce. We suggest the as a quantitative measurement of chemiluminescence, the stimulatmy index (ratio of the chemiluminescence value of stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes to non-stimulated leukocytes) was obtained for the same individual. The results obtained by a standardized, simplified technique for more than 2000 individuals (healthy persons such as medical personnel, athletes, soldier, and patients suffering from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and pneumoconiosis) explain the still restricted use of chemiluminescence. There was a wide range of individual variations and an overlap of normal physiological and pathological values. A significant statistical difference was obtained only for patients in the acute phase of the disease. The chemiluminescence measurement of phagocytic activity of leukocytes is strongly influenced by age, diet, presence of stress, and chronic inflammations.

Augmented levels of gastric mucosal leucocyte activation by infection with cagA gene‐positive Helicobacter pylori

The possession of the cytotoxin-associated gene (cagA) of Helicobacter pylori is thought to be highly associated with peptic ulcer disease. However, the pathogenic role of cagA is still unknown. We have emphasized the importance of the interrelationship between H. pylori-derived ammonia and oxygen radicals from infiltrated leucocytes. The aim of the present study was to explore the relationship between oxygen radical production and H. pylori strain diversity based on cagA possession. An endoscopic examination and gastric mucosal biopsy were performed in 30 H. pylori-infected patients with gastric ulcer. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) content and the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence value in the biopsied gastric specimens were measured as an index for leucocyte infiltration and oxygen radical production. From the precipitates of cultured bacterial isolates of biopsied specimens, bacterial DNA was purified and analysed by polymerase chain reaction to characterize the possession of cagA. While all patients had ureC-positive strains, 22 had cagA-positive and eight had cagA-negative strains. In patients with cagA-positive strains, MPO contents as well as chemiluminescence values in the gastric corpus were significantly higher than those in patients with cagA-negative strains. Gastric mucosal leucocyte recruitment and activation are suggested to be enhanced by cagA gene-positive H. pylori infection.

Antioxidative properties of products from amino acids or peptides in the reaction with glucose.

The livers of rats fed with a brownish "soybean paste" (Miso) or peptides-glucose reaction mixture showed lower TBA and chemiluminescence values than those of the control. From these results, it was clear that Miso and peptide-glucose reaction products also exhibited antioxidative effect in vivo. In order to explain this mechanism, the scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS) of various Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were studied. It was confirmed that peptide-glucose reaction products. Amadori rearrangement products, melanoidins, modified protein and its hydrolysate, brown pigments isolated from Miso and other foodstuffs showed strong scavenging activity against hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion. Consequently, it was estimated that scavenging activity of MRPs against ROS played an important role in the antioxidative effect of MRPs in vivo.

Fatty Acid Profiles and Non Enzymatic Lipid Peroxidation of Microsomes and Mitochondria from Bovine Liver, Kidney, Lung and Heart

The light emission =chemiluminescence and fatty acid composition, two markers of lipid peroxidation process, was evaluated in bovine liver, kidney, lung and heart microsomes and mitochondria incubated in the presence of ascorbate-Fe 2+ at 37°C. Microsomal and mitochondrial fractions obtained from lung, kidney and heart were more resistant to lipid peroxidation than those isolated from the liver. The ascorbate-Fe 2+ seemed to be totally ineffective in stimulating peroxidation of bovine lung, heart and kidney microsomes or mitochondria. Whereas bovine liver microsomes or mitochondria displayed the highest values of chemiluminescence when incubated in the presence of ascorbate-Fe 2+. The peroxidizability index a parameter that indicate the maximal rate of oxidation of specific fatty acids showed statistically significant differences in mitochondria isolated from lung heart and kidney and microsomes isolated from lung. The fatty acid profile of the subcellular fractions obtained from those tissues do not appear to be responsible for their different susceptibility to free radical degradation. Other factor/s may be responsible for the protection to lipid peroxidation observed in microsomal or mitochondrial fractions obtained from bovine lung, heart and kidney.

A controlled study of leukocyte activation in septic patients.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of leukocyte activation in septic patients in comparison to two control groups. A prospective clinical study in which the leukocyte oxidative output of whole blood was measured in three groups of patients. Two chemiluminescence markers (luminol or lucigenin), indicative of either total oxidant output or superoxide production, and three stimuli (opsonized zymosan, formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), phorbol myristate acetate) (PMA), representing different pathways of leukocyte activation, were used. Tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein (TNF, IL-6, and CRP) were determined to evaluate the severity of the inflammatory process. Intensive care and surgical units of a university hospital. Seventy-four healthy patients, ten ICU patients without signs of sepsis or systemic inflammatory response syndrome and 19 septic patients were studied. With all three stimuli, whole blood total oxidative output and superoxide production were generally increased in septic patients. This was most likely due to the increased leukocyte numbers in these patients. When the chemiluminescence values were normalized per phagocyte (granulocytes and monocytes), the total oxidative output of septic phagocytes decreased with opsonin and fMLP but increased with PMA, while superoxide output decreased regardless of the stimuli used. TNF, IL-6 and CRP, although increased in septic patients as compared to ICU controls, correlated weakly with oxidant output. The oxidative output of whole blood was increased in septic patients compared to controls because of elevated leukocyte numbers. However, oxidant output normalized for phagocyte numbers generally decreases during sepsis for most stimuli. Cytokines and CRP do not appear to be associated with the extent of oxidant output during sepsis.

Nitecapone is of benefit to functional performance in experimental heart transplantation

In heart transplantation, global ischemia of a graft is followed by reperfusion injury. The formation of oxygen free radicals induces arrhythmias and impairs functional recovery of the graft. This study was executed to evaluate the effect of the new antioxidant, nitecapone, on ischemia-reperfusion injury in heart transplantation in rats. Donor hearts were perfused and stored at +4 degrees C for 2 h in either Ringer's solution in the control group (C-group, n = 26) or Ringer's solution with nitecapone (NC) added (NC-group, n = 18). The donor aorta was anastomosed to the recipient's abdominal aorta and the pulmonary artery to the recipient's inferior vena cava. The grafts were classified into three categories based on the functional recovery. The rats in both groups were killed at 10, 30, or 60 min after release of the aortic clamp. Tissue samples for chemiluminescence were obtained from the left ventricle, the right ventricle, and the septum of the heart. All grafts in the NC-group (18/18) began beating after release of the aortic clamp, whereas only 50% (13/26) of the grafts in the C-group recovered (P < 0.0004). Chemiluminescence analysis showed lipid peroxidation values to be higher in the C-group than the NC-group up to 1 h after reperfusion. Also, the right ventricle samples showed lower chemiluminescence values in the NC-group than in the C-group. In conclusion, our results do not support the theory that different regions of the heart have different vulnerability to ischemia-reperfusion injuries. Nitecapone has a beneficial effect on the preservation of the grafts in terms of functional recovery.

The effects of detergents on t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced chemiluminescence.

We examined the effects of Triton X-100, digitonin, sodium dodecyl sulfate, taurocholic acid, and cetylpyridinium chloride on hemoglobin-catalyzed and t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced chemiluminescence. The experimental system contained hemoglobin, luminol, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and different concentrations of detergents (5-100 mg/dl) in TRIS-HCl buffer. Control assays were performed by excluding detergents. Chemiluminescence was detected using a liquid scintillation counter in single photon mode. All concentrations chosen for each detergent reduced the maximum chemiluminescence value and retarded the time that maximum chemiluminescence occurred. The most prominent reduction in maximum chemiluminescence was observed with 50 and 100 mg/dl digitonin. The smallest reduction was observed with 5 mg/dl sodium dodecyl sulfate, without retardation of the time that maximum chemiluminescence occurred. Our aim was to use detergents in membrane-containing experimental systems and hence to identify the detergent with the least effect on chemiluminescence. Our results suggest that sodium dodecyl sulfate is the most suitable detergent for chemiluminescence studies in membrane systems.

The role of antioxidants in the prevention of t-butyl hydroperoxide-induced chemiluminescence.

An experimental system which assesses the antioxidant potential of ascorbic acid, glutathione, uric acid, and taurine was developed. The system comprised hemoglobin, luminol, t-butyl hydroperoxide, and different concentrations of antioxidants in TRIS-HCl buffer (pH 7.4). Control assays were performed by excluding antioxidants. Chemiluminescence was detected using a liquid scintillation counter in single photon mode. All antioxidants, when applied in the appropriate concentrations, decreased the maximum chemiluminescence values. The minimum concentrations which decreased the chemiluminescence values were defined for each of the antioxidants.

Cytotoxicity of ambient air particles to rat lung macrophages: Comparison of cellular and functional assays

The biological reactivity of ambient air particles was studied in five in vitro lung macrophage assays, involving the release of cytoplasmic and lysosomal enzymes, cellular ATP, neutral red uptake, tetrazolium reduction, and chemiluminescence. Macrophages from rat lungs (2 × 10 5 cells; 1 cm 2 attachment surface; 1 ml culture medium) were exposed for 18 hr to 0–100 μg of (1) the urban dust SRM 1649, (2) titanium dioxide (TiO 2) or (3) DQ-12 quartz. On the basis of the depressions of neutral red uptake and cellular ATP, and the extracellular releases of lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and β-glucuronidase, the ranking of cytotoxicity was as follows: quartz (EC 50 = 20–60 μg/ml) > > SRM 1649 ≈ TiO 2 (EC 50 > 100 μg/ml). The decrease in 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2 H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction was more sensitive to effects of the urban dust, with an EC 50 value for SRM 1649 (35μg/ml) intermediate between those for quartz (15μg/ml) and TiO 2 (82μg/ml). Although SRM 1649 could affect mitochondrial function, the impact of the urban dust on cellular integrity after 18 hr was comparable to that of TiO 2 particles. In contrast, SRM 1649 had profound effects on phagocytosis-related chemiluminescence values measured during a 5-hr exposure period. Quartz and TiO 2 particles induced an oxidative burst from the macrophages. However, whereas a low dose of SRM 1649 (25μg) induced an oxidative burst, a further increase of the dose of particles (100–250μg) resulted in a decrease of the luminol-dependent luminescence ( P < 0.05) and, to a lesser extent, of the lucigenin-dependent luminescence. The data imply an early adverse effect of ambient air particles on the bactericidal activity of macrophages with minimal alterations in the structural integrity of the cells.

Enhanced levels of chemiluminescence and platelet activating factor in urease-positive gastric ulcers

Helicobacter pylori are believed to play an important role in the formation of gastric ulcer in a syndrome characterized by a high urease activity. On the other hand, the production of oxygen radicals and platelet activating factor (PAF) is enhanced in gastric ulcers. The present study is designed to investigate the relationship between the different aspects of gastric mucosal injury, urease activity, oxygen radical production, and PAF content in gastric specimens. Biopsy specimens taken from 35 gastric ulcer patients were studied. Urease activity was detected by a rapid urease test (CLO). Oxygen radical production was measured as a value of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (ChL) and PAF content was determined by radioimmunoassay in the biopsy samples. The CLO-positive rate was significantly higher in the gastric ulcer group in comparison with that in controls. ChL values and PAF content were significantly increased in gastric ulcers, especially in CLO-positive specimens. The CLO-positive rate, ChL values, and PAF content were also found to be increased at a distant site beyond the ulcer lesions. During the course of macroscopic ulcer healing of CLO-positive cases, the CLO positive level and the ChL values were not significantly decreased, although PAF content was significantly lower. Enhanced oxygen radical and PAF production were observed not only in the ulcer region but also at a distant site from the ulcer in the urease-positive gastric mucosa. The persistent enhancement of ChL values during the healing stage of urease-positive gastric ulcers suggests its involvement in the recurrence of gastric ulcers.

Omeprazole attenuates oxygen-derived free radical production from human neutrophils

Neutrophil-derived oxygen radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders such as acute gastric mucosal injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion or by nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The objectives of the present in vitro and clinical study were to determine whether omeprazole inhibits the production of toxic oxidants from neutrophils and to evaluate whether this drug affects intralysosomal pH. The respiratory burst of human neutrophils was measured by luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (ChL) assay. The lysosomal pH of neutrophil was assessed by the fluorescence intensity ratio of phagocytized FITC-dextran using a digital-fluorescence video microscope. In vitro studies revealed that omeprazole (1–100 μM) dose dependently inhibited the ChL value of purified neutrophils that were elicited by FMLP (f-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine) or opsonized zymosan. Lysosomal pH was also increased in a dose-dependent manner by pretreatment with omeprazole. Healthy volunteers administered omeprazole, 40 mg/d for 7 d, showed a significant reduction in ChL values in peripheral neutrophils. These results suggest that omeprazole can inhibit the production of toxic oxidants by activated neutrophils. The action of omeprazole may be associated with a malfunction of lysosomal oxidant-producing enzymes due to an elevated intralysosomal pH.

Chemiluminescence measurements on irradiated garlic powder by the single photon counting technique

The feasibility of identifying irradiated garlic powder measuring chemiluminescence by liquid scintillation spectrometry was studied. Samples packed in 100 μm thick polyethylene bags were irradiated in a 60Co semi-industrial facility, with doses of 10 and 30 kGy. Control and irradiated samples were stored at 20 ± 4°C and 70 ± 10% RH in darkness for 2 years. Assays were performed to establish the best sample concentration and pH of the buffer solution in which garlic powder was to be suspended for its measurement. The water content of garlic samples was also analyzed throughout storage time, as it related to the stability of the species causing luminescence. Chemiluminescence values diminished in every sample over storage time following an exponential pattern. Irradiated samples showed values significantly higher than those of the control samples, according to the radiation dose, throughout the storage period. This does not necessarily imply that the identification of the irradiated samples would be certain, since values of control samples coming from different origins have been found to fluctuate within a rather wide range. Nonetheless, in principle, the method looks promising for the measurement of chemiluminescence in irradiated samples

Activated immunocompetent cells in rat colitis mucosa induced by dextran sulfate sodium and not complete but partial suppression of colitis by FK506.

Administration of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) solutions to rats induced colitis which resembled mucosal lesions of human ulcerative colitis. Recent reports have shown that some cytokines are related to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis. In the present report, we describe the production of two cytokines in colitis mucosa in this DSS model. Using a cytotoxicity assay and a radioimmunoassay, we observed significant increases in levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the colitis mucosa and detected interleukin-1 alpha in the mucosa of 3 of 5 DSS rats and an increase in TNF-alpha had a tendency to be inhibited by treatment with FK506. Immunohistochemical investigation of DSS mucosa showed that the number of activated T cells increased at the earlier phase of inflammation. Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence values and myeloperoxidase activities were increased in the late phase of colitis and were suppressed by the FK506 treatment. These findings may support the role of TNF-alpha and T-cell activation in the pathogenesis of DSS colitis.

Whole blood chemiluminescence as a systemic inflammatory parameter in asthma

Blood phagocytes from patients with asthma not treated with antiinflammatory drugs have an increased capacity to produce reactive oxygen metabolites. We studied the phenomenon in a group of patients with asthma receiving inhaled steroids with whole blood chemiluminescence (CL), a simple reactive oxygen metabolite assay suitable for routine use. There was no difference in CL values between patients with stable asthma and no current obstruction ( n = 19; mean CL ± SD = 26.01 ± 6.51 mV × min) and healthy control subjects ( n = 20; mean CL ± SD = 27.37 ± 6.15 mV × min), whereas the patients with asthma and current obstruction ( n = 27) had significantly higher CL responses (mean CL ± SD = 41.10 ± 14.79 mV × min) than both the patients with nonobstructive asthma and the healthy control subjects ( p < 0.0005). There was a negative correlation between whole blood CL and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second of the patients with asthma (Spearman's r = −0.47). When the CL values were corrected for the number of phagocytes present in the reactions, the patients with nonobstructive asthma had significantly lower values than the healthy control subjects ( p < 0.05). We suggest that the CL values of the patients with nonobstructive asthma reflect the result of effective antiinflammatory treatment and that whole blood CL may be useful as a systemic parameter in the follow-up of the inflammatory process in asthma.

Increased PMA-induced chemiluminescence from whole blood of patients with bronchial hyperreactivity.

Blood phagocytes from patients with asthma have an increased capacity to produce reactive oxygen metabolites. We studied whether whole blood luminol-dependent chemiluminescence could detect this phenomenon in patients with a normal spirometry but bronchial hyperreactivity as determined with a methacholine bronchial challenge test. Whole blood chemiluminescence, serum eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP), and serum myeloperoxidase (MPO) were determined from 50 patients referred for a methacholine challenge due to prolonged cough and/or dyspnoea. The chemiluminescence results were compared to those from 15 healthy persons. The hyperreactive patients (n = 18) had significantly higher phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced whole blood chemiluminescence values (mean 18.8 mV.min-1; 95% confidence limits (C.L.) 16.3-21.3 mV.min-1) than the normoreactive patients (mean 14.2 mV.min-1; 95% C.L. 13.0-15.5 mV.min-1;) and the healthy controls (mean 12.8 mV.min-1; 95% C.L. 11.7-13.9 mV.min-1). There was no significant difference in PMA-induced chemiluminescence between the normoreactive patients and the controls. The hyperreactive patients had higher serum ECP values than the normoreactive patients, but there was no correlation between whole blood chemiluminescence and serum ECP levels or total eosinophil count. There was no significant difference in monocyte reactive oxygen metabolite production or serum MPO values between the normoreactive and the hyperreactive patients. We suggest that the increased PMA-induced whole blood chemiluminescence in bronchial hyperreactivity is due mainly to an activation of neutrophils, and that the assay might be useful as a systemic inflammatory marker in patients with pulmonary inflammatory processes resulting in bronchial hyperreactivity.