A cross-sectional survey of environmental health in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia.

INTRODUCTION: The Australian Aboriginal population experiences significantly poorer health than the non-Aboriginal population. The contribution of environmental risk factors in remote communities to this health disparity is poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: To describe and quantify major environmental risk factors and associated health outcomes in remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia. METHODS: The association between environmental health indicators, community infrastructure and reported health outcomes was analysed using linear and logistic regression of survey data. RESULTS: Housing/overcrowding was significantly associated with increased reports of hearing/eyesight (OR 3.01 95 % CI 1.58-5.73), skin (OR 2.71 95 % CI 1.31-5.60), gastrointestinal (OR 3.51 95 % CI 1.49-8.26) and flu/colds (OR 2.47 95 % CI 1.27-4.78) as health concerns. Dust was significantly associated with hearing/eyesight (OR 3.16 95 % CI 1.82-5.48), asthma/respiratory (OR 2.48 95 % CI 1.43-4.29) and flu/colds (OR 3.31 95 % CI 1.88-5.86) as health concerns. CONCLUSION: Poor environmental health is prevalent in remote Aboriginal communities and requires further delineation to inform environmental health policy.

A role for orexin in cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced fatigue.

Fatigue is the most common symptom related to cytotoxic chemotherapeutic treatment of cancer. Peripheral inflammation associated with cytotoxic chemotherapy is likely a causal factor of fatigue. The neural mechanisms by which cytotoxic chemotherapy associated inflammation induces fatigue behavior are not known. This lack of knowledge hinders development of interventions to reduce or prevent this disabling symptom. Infection induced fatigue/lethargy in rodents is mediated by suppression of hypothalamic orexin activity. Orexin is critical for maintaining wakefulness and motivated behavior. Though there are differences between infection and cytotoxic chemotherapy in some symptoms, both induce peripheral inflammation and fatigue. Based on these similarities we hypothesized that cytotoxic chemotherapy induces fatigue by disrupting orexin neuron activity. We found that a single dose of a cytotoxic chemotherapy cocktail (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, 5-fluorouracil - CAF) induced fatigue/lethargy in mice and rats as evidenced by a significant decline in voluntary locomotor activity measured by telemetry. CAF induced inflammatory gene expression - IL-1R1 (p<0.001), IL-6 (p<0.01), TNFα (p<0.01), and MCP-1 (p<0.05) - in the rodent hypothalamus 6-24h after treatment during maximum fatigue/lethargy. CAF decreased orexin neuron activity as reflected by decreased nuclear cFos localization in orexin neurons 24h after treatment (p<0.05) and by decreased orexin-A in cerebrospinal fluid 16 h after treatment (p<0.001). Most importantly, we found that central administration of 1 µg orexin-A restored activity in CAF-treated rats (p<0.05). These results demonstrate that cytotoxic chemotherapy induces hypothalamic inflammation and that suppression of hypothalamic orexin neuron activity has a causal role in cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced fatigue in rodents.

The development and implementation of quality assurance programs to support nutritional measurements.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology administers quality assurance programs devoted to improving measurements of nutrients and related metabolites in foods, dietary supplements, and serum and plasma samples. These programs have been developed in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health to assist measurement communities in their efforts to achieve accurate results that are comparable among different laboratories and over time. Targeted analytes include micronutrients, botanical markers, nutritional elements, contaminants, fatty acids, and vitamin D metabolites.

Development and certification of green tea-containing standard reference materials.

A suite of three green tea-containing Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) has been issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): SRM 3254 Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) Leaves, SRM 3255 Camellia sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, and SRM 3256 Green Tea-Containing Solid Oral Dosage Form. The materials are characterized for catechins, xanthine alkaloids, theanine, and toxic elements. As many as five methods were used in assigning certified and reference values to the constituents, with measurements carried out at NIST and at collaborating laboratories. The materials are intended for use in the development and validation of new analytical methods, and for use as control materials as a component in the support of claims of metrological traceability.

Certification of vitamins and carotenoids in SRM 3280 multivitamin/multielement tablets.

A new multivitamin/multielement dietary supplement Standard Reference Material (SRM) has been issued by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with certified and reference concentration values for 13 vitamins, 24 elements, and 2 carotenoids. The constituents have been measured by multiple analytical methods with data contributed by NIST and by collaborating laboratories. This effort included the first use of isotope dilution mass spectrometry for value assignment of both fat-soluble vitamins (FSVs) and water-soluble vitamins (WSVs). Excellent agreement was obtained among the methods, with relative expanded uncertainties for the certified concentration values typically ranging from <2% to 15% for vitamins.

Certification of standard reference materials containing bitter orange.

A suite of three dietary supplement standard reference materials (SRMs) containing bitter orange has been developed, and the levels of five alkaloids and caffeine have been measured by multiple analytical methods. Synephrine, octopamine, tyramine, N-methyltyramine, hordenine, total alkaloids, and caffeine were determined by as many as six analytical methods, with measurements performed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology and at two collaborating laboratories. The methods offer substantial independence, with two types of extractions, two separation methods, and four detection methods. Excellent agreement was obtained among the measurements, with data reproducibility for most methods and analytes better than 5% relative standard deviation. The bitter-orange-containing dietary supplement SRMs are intended primarily for use as measurement controls and for use in the development and validation of analytical methods.

Development and certification of the new SRM 695 trace elements in multi-nutrient fertilizer.

During the past seven years, several states within the US have enacted regulations that limit the amounts of selected non-nutritive elements in fertilizers. Internationally, several countries, including Japan, China, and Australia, and the European Union also limit the amount of selected elements in fertilizers. The elements of interest include As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. Fertilizer manufacturers and state regulatory authorities, faced with meeting and verifying these limits, need to develop analytical methods for determination of the elements of concern and to validate results obtained using these methods. Until now, there were no certified reference materials available with certified mass fraction values for all elements of interest in a blended, multi-nutrient fertilizer matrix. A new standard reference material (SRM) 695 trace elements in multi-nutrient fertilizer, has been developed to help meet these needs. SRM 695 has recently been issued with certified mass fraction values for seventeen elements, reference values for an additional five elements, and information values for two elements. The certificate of analysis includes an addendum listing percentage recovery for eight of these elements, determined using an acid-extraction inductively-coupled plasma optical-emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) method recently developed and tested by members of the Association of American Plant Food Control Officials.

The certification of SRM 1546--Meat Homogenate, a new reference material for nutrients in a high protein, high fat matrix.

In response to reference material needs expressed by the food industry and government regulators, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new Standard Reference Material (SRM) consisting of a canned meat product with certified and reference values for a large number of constituents. SRM 1546 Meat Homogenate consists of a mixture of finely ground pork and chicken prepared and canned by a commercial process. NIST determined the concentration levels of cholesterol, sodium, calcium, iron, and seven fatty acids in this SRM using well defined methods and procedures. These analytes as well as 34 other constituents or properties were determined in an interlaboratory comparison exercise involving 21 laboratories, most of which are associated with the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) Food Industry Analytical Chemists Subcommittee (FIACS). From statistical analysis of the data, NIST assigned certified concentrations for the eleven analytes measured at NIST and reference concentrations for the proximates, six additional fatty acids, seven minerals, and seven water-soluble vitamins. Information values without uncertainties are provided for the concentrations of six additional constituents for which the uncertainties could not adequately be assessed. SRM 1546 will provide laboratories with a means to evaluate the accuracy of the methods they use to assign nutrient levels to processed meats and similar products.

The effects of inhaled budesonide on circulating eosinophil progenitors and their expression of cytokines after allergen challenge in subjects with atopic asthma.

Allergen inhalation by dual responder subjects with atopic asthma is associated with an increase in circulating eosinophil/basophil colony-forming units (Eo/B CFU) and granulocyte-macrophage colony- stimulating factor (GM-CSF) immunolocalization in Eo/B colony cells grown in vitro. The current study examined the effect of the inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, on the number of allergen- induced circulating eosinophils and Eo/B CFU, and immunolocalization of GM-CSF and interleukin-5 (IL-5) in Eo/B colony cells grown in vitro. Sixteen subjects with mild atopic asthma were treated for either 7 or 8 d with 200 microg inhaled budesonide or placebo twice a day. Peripheral blood was collected before and 24 h after allergen inhalation challenge and nonadherent mononuclear cells (NAMC) were grown in methylcellulose culture. Eo/B CFU were enumerated after 14 d in culture, and prepared on slides for immunocytochemistry. Budesonide attenuated the allergen-induced increase in circulating eosinophils (4.0 +/- 0.4 x 10(5)/ml versus 6.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(5)/ml, p = 0.0001), circulating Eo/B CFU (12.4 +/- 2.3/10(6) NAMC versus 18.8 +/- 4.6/10(6) NAMC, p = 0.05), and immunolocalization of GM-CSF in Eo/B colony cells (11.8 +/- 1.9% positive versus 18.0 +/- 2.2%, p = 0.01) but not immunolocalization of IL-5 (7.9 +/- 1.4% versus 4.5 +/- 0.6%, p > 0.05). Inhaled budesonide attenuated the number of allergen-induced circulating eosinophils and their progenitors grown in the presence of GM-CSF, which may partially be a result of regulating eosinophil progenitor expression of the autocrine growth factor GM-CSF.

Potent cyclic peptide inhibitors of VLA-4 (alpha4beta1 integrin)-mediated cell adhesion. Discovery of compounds like cyclo(MePhe-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg) (ZD7349) compatible with depot formulation.

Additional structure-activity relationship studies on potent cyclic peptide inhibitors of very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) are reported. The new N- to C-terminal cyclic hexa-, hepta- and octapeptide inhibitors like cyclo(MeIle/MePhe-Leu-Asp-Val-X) (X = 2-4 amino acids containing hydrophobic and/or basic side chains) were synthesized using solid phase peptide synthesis methods. The peptides were evaluated in in vitro cell adhesion assays and in in vivo inflammation models. Many of the peptides like cyclo(MePhe-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg) (ZD7349) (17), cyclo(MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg-D-Phe) (20), cyclo(MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg-MePhe) (21) and cyclo(MePhe-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg-D-Ala-D-Ala) (23) were potent inhibitors of VLA-4-mediated cell adhesion and inhibited ovalbumin-induced delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in mice. The more potent compounds were highly selective and did not affect U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin (VLA-5), phorbolmyristate acetate or PMA-differentiated U937 cell adhesion to intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1)-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells (LFA-1) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation (GPIIb/IIIa). In contrast to the inhibitors like Ac-cyclo(D-Lys-D-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val) and cyclo(CH2CO-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pip-CH2CO-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pip) described earlier, the new compounds were much more compatible with the depot formulations based on poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) polymers. The hexapeptide cyclo(MePhe-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Arg-D-Arg) (ZD7349) (17) inhibited MOLT-4 cell adhesion to fibronectin and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) with IC50 values of 260 and 330 nM, respectively, and did not show any significant effect against other integrins (IC50 > 300 microM). ZD7349 inhibited ovalbumin-induced DTH response in mice when administered continuously using a mini-pump (ED50 0.01 mg/kg/day) or when given as an s.c. or i.v. bolus injection at a dose of 1-10 mg/kg. ZD7349 was also active in type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) tests at a dose of 3-10 mg/kg. The peptide was released from some formulations over a period of 10-20 days. ZD7349 is currently undergoing pre-clinical investigation.

The oncogenic properties of the HMG-I gene family.

The HMG-I gene family encodes high mobility group proteins originally identified as nonhistone chromosomal binding proteins. HMG-I and -Y proteins are alternatively spliced products of the same mRNA; HMG-C is encoded by a separate gene. The HMG-I proteins function as architectural chromatin-binding proteins that bind to the narrow groove of AT-rich regions in double-stranded DNA. Recent studies indicate an important role for HMG-I proteins in regulating gene expression. Moreover, increased expression of the HMG-I, -Y, and -C proteins correlates with cellular proliferation and neoplastic transformation in several cell types and human cancers. Previous work from our laboratory has shown that HMG-I is a direct c-Myc target gene that is involved in Myc-mediated neoplastic transformation. In this report, we show that increased expression of HMG-Y or -C leads to transformation with anchorage-independent cell growth in two experimental cell lines in a manner similar to that of HMG-I or c-Myc. Moreover, Rat la cells overexpressing HMG-Y or -C form tumors in nude mice analogous to Rat 1a cells overexpressing HMG-I or c-Myc. Distant metastases developed in animals injected with cells overexpressing HMG-I or -C. Our findings suggest that the HMG-I gene family is involved in neoplastic transformation and may represent a new family of oncogenes important in the pathogenesis of several human cancers.

Drug resistance and drug combination features of the human immunodeficiency virus inhibitor, BCH-10652 [(+/-)-2'-deoxy-3'-oxa-4'-thiocytidine, dOTC].

The heterosubstituted nucleoside analogue dOTC [( )-2'-deoxy-3'-oxa-4'-thiocytidine, BCH-10652] is a racemic compound structurally related to 3TC (lamivudine), but has the oxygen and sulphur in the furanosyl ring transposed. Both the enantiomers (-)dOTC (BCH-10618) and (+)dOTC (BCH-10619) had equivalent activity against wild-type strains of HIV-1 in C8166 T-cells (EC50 1.0-10.0 microM) and in PBMCs (EC50 0.1-3.0 microM). Investigation of the activity of dOTC and its enantiomers against laboratory strains of HIV-1 with defined resistance to 3TC, AZT (zidovudine), ddl (didanosine), PMEA (adefovir), nevirapine and saquinavir indicated that sensitivity was maintained (<3-fold change in EC50) in all cases, with the exception of HIV-1RF 3TC-resistant viruses. The degree of resistance recorded for dOTC (four- to sevenfold), (-)dOTC (five- to eightfold) and (+)dOTC (five- to >18-fold) against these M1841 or M184V mutants, was significantly less than that recorded for 3TC (>100-fold). In addition, the inhibitory effect of the compounds against clinical isolates of HIV-1 recovered from patients with suspected resistance to 3TC and AZT was investigated. Clinical isolates were genotyped using the Murex Line Probe Assay (LiPA) and subgrouped into wild-type, 3TC-resistant and dual 3TC/AZT-resistant, as well as undefined or mixed genotype populations. Compared with the mean EC50 values obtained with genotypically and phenotypically wild-type clinical isolates, the mean EC50 values calculated for isolates phenotypically resistant to 3TC or 3TC and AZT were only 2.6-, 1.6- and 8.2-fold higher for dOTC, (-)dOTC and (+)dOTC, respectively. When the rate of emergence of virus resistant to dOTC and its enantiomers in vitro was investigated, virus resistant to (+)dOTC was readily selected for (<10 passages), and a methionine (ATG) to isoleucine (ATA) amino acid change at codon 184 was identified. In contrast, virus resistant to dOTC and (-)dOTC took longer to appear (15-20 passages), with a methionine (ATG) to valine (GTG) amino acid change at position 184 identified in both cases. In addition, virus passaged 20 times in the presence of dOTC also had a partial lysine (AAA) to arginine (AGA) exchange at position 65. These viruses showed only low-level resistance to dOTC and its enantiomers, but were highly resistant to 3TC. The antiviral effects of dOTC in combination with the nucleoside RT inhibitors AZT, 3TC, d4T (stavudine) and ddl, the non-nucleoside RT inhibitor nevirapine and the protease inhibitors saquinavir, ritonavir and indinavir was investigated. Two-way drug combination assays were carried out in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) cultures by measuring the reduction in p24 viral antigen levels, and data was analysed using the MacSynergy II program. dOTC in combination with 3TC or d4T showed a moderate synergistic effect while all other combinations had an additive interaction.

Potent cyclic monomeric and dimeric peptide inhibitors of VLA-4 (alpha4beta1 integrin)-mediated cell adhesion based on the Ile-Leu-Asp-Val tetrapeptide.

Potent monomeric and dimeric cyclic peptide very late antigen-4 (VLA-4) inhibitors have been designed based on a tetrapeptide (Ile-Leu-Asp-Val) sequence present in a 25-amino acid peptide (CS-1) reported in the literature. The peptides, synthesized by the SPPS techniques, were evaluated in the in vitro cell adhesion assays and in the in vivo inflammation models. The N- to C-terminal cyclic peptides such as cyclo(Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-NH-(CH2)2-S-(CH2)2-CO) (28) and cyclo(MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val-D-Ala-D-Ala) (31), monomeric and dimeric peptides containing piperazine (Pip) or homopiperazine (hPip) residues as linking groups, e.g. cyclo(MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val-Pip-CH2CO-NH-(CH2)2-S-CH2-CO) (49) and cyclo(MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val hPip-CH2CO-MeIle-Leu-Asp-Val-hPip-CH2CO) (58) and cyclic peptides containing an amide bond between the side chain amino group of an amino acid such as Lys and the C-terminal Val carboxyl group, e.g. Ac-cyclo(D-Lys-D-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val) (62) and beta-Ala-cyclo(D-Lys-D-Leu-Leu-Asp-Val) (68) were more potent than CS-1 in inhibiting the adhesion of the VLA-4-expressing MOLT-4 cells to fibronectin. The more potent compounds were highly selective and did not affect U937 cell adhesion to fibronectin (VLA-5), PMA-differentiated U937 cell adhesion to intercellular cell adhesion molecule- 1-expressing Chinese hamster ovary cells (LFA-1) and ADP-induced platelet aggregation (GPIIb/IIIa). A number of the more potent compounds inhibited ovalbumin-induced delayed type hypersensitivity in mice and some were 100-300 times more potent (ED50 = 0.003-0.009 mg/kg/day, s.c.) than CS-1. Two peptides, Ac-cyclo(D-Lys D-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val) (62) and cyclo(CH2CO-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pip-CH2CO-Ile-Leu-Asp-Val-Pip) (55), were formulated in poly(DL-lactide-co-glycolide) depots and the release profile was investigated in vitro over a 30-day period.

HMG-I/Y, a new c-Myc target gene and potential oncogene.

The HMG-I/Y gene encodes the HMG-I and HMG-Y proteins, which function as architectural chromatin binding proteins important in the transcriptional regulation of several genes. Although increased expression of the HMG-I/Y proteins is associated with cellular proliferation, neoplastic transformation, and several human cancers, the role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of malignancy remains unclear. To better understand the role of these proteins in cell growth and transformation, we have been studying the regulation and function of HMG-I/Y. The HMG-I/Y promoter was cloned, sequenced, and subjected to mutagenesis analysis. A c-Myc-Max consensus DNA binding site was identified as an element important in the serum stimulation of HMG-I/Y. The oncoprotein c-Myc and its protein partner Max bind to this site in vitro and activate transcription in transfection experiments. HMG-I/Y expression is stimulated by c-Myc in a Myc-estradiol receptor cell line in the presence of the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, indicating that HMG-I/Y is a direct c-Myc target gene. HMG-I/Y induction is decreased in Myc-deficient fibroblasts. HMG-I/Y protein expression is also increased in Burkitt's lymphoma cell lines, which are known to have increased c-Myc protein. Like Myc, increased expression of HMG-I protein leads to the neoplastic transformation of both Rat 1a fibroblasts and CB33 cells. In addition, Rat 1a cells overexpressing HMG-I protein form tumors in nude mice. Decreasing HMG-I/Y proteins using an antisense construct abrogates transformation in Burkitt's lymphoma cells. These findings indicate that HMG-I/Y is a c-Myc target gene involved in neoplastic transformation and a member of a new class of potential oncogenes.

Interaction between haemopoietic regulation and airway inflammation.

Asthma is characterized by reversible airway narrowing, by airway hyperresponsiveness, and by airway inflammation. Inhaled allergens are the most important of the stimuli known to cause asthma. Methods for studying inhaled allergen in the laboratory have been well standardized and extensively used for the investigation of the pathophysiology and the pharmacological modulation of allergen-induced airway responses. Allergen inhalation by a sensitized subject results in an early asthmatic response, and, in the majority of subjects, a late asthmatic response and airway hyperresponsiveness. The late response and airway hyperresponsiveness are associated with increases in airway eosinophils and metachromatic cells. Allergen-induced airway inflammation in dogs (predominantly neutrophilic) is associated with increased granulocyte-macrophage progenitors in bone marrow, which is dependent on the effects of a circulating serum factor stimulating the bone marrow. The newly formed cells traffic to the airways. These increases in granulocyte-macrophage progenitors are blocked by inhaled corticosteroids. In human subjects, allergen-induced eosinophilic inflammation is associated with increases in Eo/B progenitors, mediated through up-regulation if the IL-5 receptor on progenitors and increases responsiveness to IL-5. Inhaled corticosteroids also attenuate all allergen-induced physiological responses and airway inflammation, an effect possibly mediated, in part, through inhibition of eosinophil and basophil maturation or release from the bone marrow.

Anti-inflammatory activity of c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO), a novel, selective, cyclic peptide inhibitor of VLA-4-mediated cell adhesion.

1. Small, N- to C-terminal cyclized peptides containing the leucyl-aspartyl-valine (LDV) motif from fibronectin connecting segment-1 (CS-1) have been investigated for their effects on the adhesion of human T-lymphoblastic leukaemia cells (MOLT-4) to human plasma fibronectin in vitro mediated by the integrin Very Late Antigen (VLA)-4 (alpha4beta1, CD49d/CD29). 2. Cyclo(-isoleucyl-leucyl-aspartyl-valyl-aminohexanoyl-) (c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO)) was approximately 5 fold more potent (IC50 3.6+/-0.44 microM) than the 25-amino acid linear CS-1 peptide. Cyclic peptides containing two more or one less methylene groups had similar potency to c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO) while a compound containing three less methylene groups, c(ILDV-NH(CH2)2CO), was inactive at 100 microM. 3. c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO) had little effect on cell adhesion mediated by two other integrins, VLA-5 (alpha5,beta1, CD49e/CD29) (K562 cell adhesion to fibronectin) or Leukocyte Function Associated molecule-1 (LFA-1, alphabeta2, CD11a/CD18) (U937 cell adhesion to Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with intercellular adhesion molecule-1) at concentrations up to 300 microM. 4. c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO) inhibited ovalbumin delayed-type hypersensitivity or oxazolone contact hypersensitivity in Balb/c mice when dosed continuously from subcutaneous osmotic mini-pumps (0.1-10 mg kg(-1) day(-1)). Maximum inhibition (approximately 40%) was similar to that caused by the monoclonal antibody PS/2 (7.5 mg kg(-1) i.v.) directed against the alpha4 integrin subunit. 5. c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO) also inhibited oxazolone contact hypersensitivity when dosed intravenously 20 h after oxazolone challenge (1-10 mg kg(-1)). Ear swelling was reduced at 3 h and 4 h but not at 1 h and 2 h post-dose (10 mg kg(-1)). 6. Small molecule VLA-4 inhibitors derived from c(ILDV-NH(CH2)5CO) may be useful as anti-inflammatory agents.

An inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, reduces baseline but not allergen-induced increases in bone marrow inflammatory cell progenitors in asthmatic subjects.

We have previously shown that allergen inhalation by asthmatics is associated with increases in bone marrow eosinophil/basophil colony-forming cells (Eo/B-CFU), and increases in CD34(+) hemopoietic progenitors expressing the alpha-subunit of the IL-5 receptor (IL-5Ralpha). This study investigated the effect of inhaled corticosteroid on baseline numbers and allergen-induced increases in these parameters. Nine subjects with mild, stable asthma inhaled budesonide (400 microgram/d) for 8 d in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized crossover study. On Day 7, subjects inhaled allergen, with bone marrow sampling before and 24 h after challenge. Budesonide inhalation significantly attenuated the allergen-induced early and late asthmatic responses, degree of increase in sputum and blood eosinophils, as well as the baseline numbers of total bone marrow CD34(+) cells (p < 0.05), CD34(+)IL-3Ralpha+ cells (p < 0.01) and IL-5-responsive Eo/B-CFU (p < 0.05). Allergen inhalation significantly increased Eo/B-CFU grown in the presence of IL-3, GM-CSF, or IL-5 alone (p < 0.05) and in combination (p < 0.01), as well as the number of CD34(+)IL-5Ralpha+ cells (p < 0.01). However, these increases in Eo/B-CFU and CD34(+)IL-5Ralpha+ cells were not affected by budesonide treatment. These data demonstrate that short-term inhaled budesonide treatment has a systemic effect in inhibiting the turnover of a subpopulation of bone-marrow-derived progenitors, but that inhalation of allergen overcomes this inhibitory effect.

Allergen challenge increases cell traffic between bone marrow and lung.

Increases in inflammatory-cell progenitors have been demonstrated in the bone marrow (BM) after inhalation of Ascaris suum in dogs at the time of allergen-induced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of allergen challenge on trafficking of inflammatory cells and their progenitors from the BM to the lung, using a marker of proliferating cells, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). BrdU is a thymidine analogue taken up by the DNA of dividing cells, and can be detected with immunohistochemistry (IHC). The development of AHR was assessed through acetylcholine (ACh) airway responsiveness before and after allergen inhalation. Two groups of dogs were matched for the degree of AHR after a screening allergen challenge. On the study day, one group inhaled allergen (n = 8) and one group inhaled diluent (n = 8). All dogs received equal bolus injections of BrdU before and at 5 h after challenge. Blood samples were taken before challenge and at 5 h and 24 h after challenge, and BM aspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples were taken 24 h after challenge. BrdU-positive cells were detected in cytospin preparations of these samples, using IHC. Allergen inhalation caused AHR (P < 0.05) at 24 h after allergen challenge, and also an increase in BrdU-positive cells in blood, which was 5.7 +/- 0.6% (mean +/- SEM) after allergen challenge and 2.5 +/- 0.7% after diluent (P < 0.005); in BM the increase in BrdU-positive cells was 27.0 +/- 3.4% after allergen challenge and 18.9 +/- 3.2% after diluent (P = 0.1); and in BAL the increase was 3.2 +/- 0.4% after allergen challenge and 0.8 +/- 0.3% after diluent (P < 0.005). There was a significant correlation between the number of BAL neutrophils and the percentage of BrdU-positive BAL cells (r2 = 0.54, P < 0.05). These results demonstrate an allergen-induced increase in proliferating cells, probably in the BM, and indicate that such cells traffic through the circulation into the lungs in response to allergen inhalation.

Changes in bone marrow inflammatory cell progenitors after inhaled allergen in asthmatic subjects.

Increases in inflammatory cell progenitors, particularly eosinophil/basophil colony-forming cells (Eo/B-CFU), occur in peripheral blood after allergen provocation. The role of bone marrow (BM) in these reactions is unclear. We examined the effect of allergen challenge on human bone marrow progenitor cell growth. Fifteen asthmatic subjects, eight dual responders (DR) and seven isolated early responders (IER), were challenged with inhaled allergen. BM aspirates were taken before and 24 h after challenge and progenitors were enumerated by a colony-forming assay. Eo/B-CFU numbers increased in both groups after allergen challenge (p < 0.0001). For DR, the increases were significant for BM incubated with optimal GMCSF and IL-5, but not with IL-3. For IER, the increases were significant for all three cytokines tested. At a suboptimal concentration of IL-5, there was a significant increase in the number of Eo/B-CFU after allergen in the DR, from 5.25 +/- 1.2 to 9.68 +/- 2.1 per 2.5 x 10(5) cells plated (p < 0.01), which was not demonstrated in the IER (p = 0.94). The responses at this concentration of IL-5 were different between groups (p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that inhaled allergen increases BM Eo/B-CFU, and that the bone marrow of dual responders is more responsive to IL-5 after allergen.