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Saliva is one likely source of leukotriene B₄ in exhaled breath condensate

Division of Physiology, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

CORRESPONDENCE: F. Gaber, Unit for Experimental Asthma and Allergy Research, Division of Physiology, P.O. Box 287, The National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden. Fax: 46 8300619. E-mail: Flora.Gaber{at}ki.se

Keywords: -amylase, exhaled breath condensate, induced sputum, leukotriene B₄, neutrophilic inflammation, pig house

Received: December 26, 2005
Accepted August 17, 2006

Leukotriene (LT)B₄ in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been reported to be elevated in airway inflammation. The origin of leukotrienes in EBC is, however, not established.

The aims of this study are to measure LTB₄ levels in EBC collected in two challenges characterised by a strong neutrophilic airway inflammation and to compare LTB₄ levels in EBC with levels in sputum and saliva.

LTB₄ and -amylase were measured in EBC from 34 healthy subjects exposed in a pig confinement building or to a lipopolysaccharide provocation. These markers were also measured in induced sputum in 11 of the subjects. For comparison, LTB₄ and -amylase were measured in saliva from healthy subjects.

Only four out of 102 EBC samples had detectable LTB₄ (28–100 pg·mL^-1). -amylase activity was detected in the LTB₄-positive samples. In contrast, LTB₄ was detected in all examined sputum supernatants in the same study (median 1,190 pg·mL^-1). The median LTB₄ level in saliva was 469 pg·mL^-1.

High levels of leukotriene B₄ in saliva and the presence of leukotriene B₄ in exhaled breath condensate only when -amylase was detected, indicate that leukotriene B₄ found in exhaled breath condensate is the result of saliva contamination. As leukotriene B₄ was consistently present in sputum supernatants, exhaled breath condensate may be inappropriate for monitoring airway leukotriene B₄.

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