Elevated Histamine and Tryptase Levels in Smokers’ Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Effects of water-soluble cigarette smoke extracts upon the release of ?-hexosaminidase from RBL-2H3 basophilic leukaemia cells in response to substance P, compound 48/80, concanavalin A and antigen stimulation

“…It is of course difficult to extrapolate data from cultured cells in vitro to the situation in vivo. However, the present results would suggest that a sensitisation of mast cells to stimuli (as opposed to an increased density of mast cells) is not a likely explanation for the finding of increased levels of preformed mast cell mediators in the bronchalveolar fluid of smokers [6]. The findings, however, may have some bearing upon the observation that the incidence of an extrinsic allergic alveolitis seen in pigeon breeders is lower in smokers than in non-smokers.…”

“…There is good evidence that inflammatory reactions occur in the lungs of smokers, and several studies have suggested that mast cells may be involved in smokinginduced lung disease. Kalenderian et al [6] found that the levels of the mast cell mediators histamine and tryptase were considerably elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from smokers. The authors concluded that these data indicated 'a greater propensity for mast cell-mediated injury in the smoker'.…”

Assessment of bronchial inflammation using an automated cell recognition system based on colour analysis

“…However, different authors have observed an increase in the number of mast cells located in airway epithelium exposed to cigarette smoking [31,32]. In addition, the concentration of tryptase, the main mast cell-derived protease, can be elevated in smoker's bronchoalveolar lavage fluid [33]. In the current study, a significant increase in epithelial mast cell numbers of MCT subtype was not found in the smokers group.…”

Outcomes for COPD pharmacological trials: from lung function to biomarkers

“…Levels of eosinophil cationic protein, myeloperoxidase and IL-8 are frequently increased in COPD patients and in healthy smokers compared with healthy nonsmokers, an observation suggesting that smoking induces the changes rather than COPD itself. Two studies investigated tryptase and histamine levels and showed that COPD patients had higher levels as well, suggesting mast cell activation in COPD [494,495]. However, data were not compared with healthy smokers, and thus the increase in mast cell mediators may be completely attributed to smoking itself.…”