@article{3157728,
    title = "Levels of prostaglandin E2 and Cysteinyl-leukotrienes in sputum
supernatant of patients with asthma: the effect of smoking",
    author = "Kontogianni, K. and Bakakos, P. and Kostikas, K. and Hillas, G. and and Papaporfyriou, A. and Papiris, S. and Koulouris, N. G. and Loukides, S.",
    journal = "Clinical and Experimental Allergy",
    year = "2013",
    volume = "43",
    number = "6",
    pages = "616-624",
    publisher = "Wiley",
    doi = "10.1111/cea.12077",
    keywords = "asthma; inflammation; smoking eicosanoids",
    abstract = "Background Smoking is associated with worse asthma outcomes and may
modify airway inflammation. Such modification may be mediated through an
effect on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (Cyst-LTs).
Objective We aimed to determine the levels of both PGE2 and Cyst-LTs in
sputum supernatants of patients with asthma and to investigate the
effect of smoking habit as well as their associations with inflammatory
cells, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and lung function. Methods
Ninety-eight patients to asthma (47 smokers) and 40 healthy subjects (20
smokers) were studied. All subjects underwent sputum induction for cell
count identification, PGE2 and Cyst-LTs levels measurement in
supernatants, pulmonary function tests and BHR to methacholine. Results
Patients with asthma had significantly higher levels of both Cyst-LTs
and PGE2 in sputum supernatants compared to healthy subjects [median
(interquartile ranges) 432 (287, 575) vs. 91.5 (73.5, 111)pg/mL and 654
(456,789) vs. 117.5 (92,157)pg/mL, respectively, P<0.001 for both
comparisons]. Smoking asthmatics had significantly higher Cyst-LTs and
PGE2 levels compared to non-smoking asthmatics. Cyst-LTs levels in
sputum supernatant of smoking asthmatics presented a significant
positive association with sputum eosinophils, while PGE2 levels were
positively associated with sputum neutrophils. Conclusions The increased
concentrations of PGE2 and Cyst-LTs in sputum supernatants of smoking
asthma are consistent with an up-regulation of these two mediators in
this specific phenotype of asthma. Furthermore, Cyst-LTs are associated
with eosinophilic inflammation, while PGE2 is associated with the
presence of neutrophilic inflammation in smoking asthma."
}