The -2549 -2567 del18 Polymorphism in VEGF and Irreversible Bronchoconstriction in Asthmatics.

BACKGROUND: While the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of several diseases (eg, neoplasms) has been proven, its role in asthma, especially in terms of the potential associations between genetic variants of VEGF and airway remodeling, has received relatively little attention. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the possible connection between a genetic factor, ie, the polymorphism del/ins in the VEGF promoter region, and airway remodeling potential in asthmatics with and without irreversible bronchoconstriction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study population comprised 82 patients with asthma (of whom 42 had irreversible bronchoconstriction) and a group of 40 controls. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes. Polymerase chain reaction was used to type the VEGF (18-bp deletion/insertion) gene polymorphism at loci -2549 -2567. Other factors (ie, smoking, disease duration) were also taken into consideration. RESULTS: The del/del genotype was found in 74.39% of patients with asthma (P=.031; OR=2.38), 80.95% of patients with irreversible bronchoconstriction (P=.012; OR=3.48), and 67.5% patients with reversible bronchoconstriction (P=.251; OR=1.70). The proportion of smokers to nonsmokers was higher (P=.032) and disease duration was longer (P=.041) in patients with irreversible bronchoconstriction than in those with reversible bronchoconstriction. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that the risk of irreversible bronchoconstriction in asthmatics was associated with the presence of the del18 genotype at the -2549 -2567 position in the promoter region of the VEGF gene, as were disease duration and other factors such as smoking.

A new variant of the basophil activation test for allergen-induced basophil CD63 upregulation. The effect of cetirizine.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to determine the diagnostic usefulness of a newly developed basophil activation test (BAT) in patients allergic to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and pollens. We also analyzed the influence of cetirizine on CD63 upregulation. This popular antihistamine strongly inhibits skin tests, but its impact on BAT sensitivity remains unknown and deserves at least preliminary determination. METHODS: The study sample comprised 22 patients allergic to house dust mite and pollens and 19 healthy controls. All participants underwent skin prick testing and the newly developed flow-cytometric basophil activation test. The protocol for allergen-induced basophil CD63 upregulation consisted of whole blood samples that were processed and stained with anti-CCR3/CD63 antibodies added to the buffer at the beginning of stimulation. Skin prick tests and BAT were performed twice--before and 2 hours after ingestion of 10 mg of cetirizine. RESULTS: The new BAT is characterized by its short processing time, easy basophil gating, and strong CD63 upregulation with very high sensitivity and excellent specificity. Our results suggest that allergen-induced CD63 upregulation by higher doses of allergens is not inhibited 2 hours after administration of cetirizine (unlike skin prick tests). CONCLUSION: The BAT is a very useful and precise method for the diagnosis of allergy to aeroallergens. It is not influenced by cetirizine.