PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Nikolaos Soulitzis
AU  - Athanasia Proklou
AU  - Eirini Neofytou
AU  - Nikoletta Rovina
AU  - Eleftherios Zervas
AU  - Mina Gaga
AU  - Epistimi Kallitsi
AU  - Nikolaos Siafakas
AU  - Eleni Tzortzaki
TI  - Granule cytotoxic activity and oxidative DNA damage in smoking and non-smoking asthmatics
DP  - 2013 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P831
VI  - 42
IP  - Suppl 57
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P831.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P831.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42
AB  - Background: Lung cytotoxic mechanisms trigger the release of Perforin and Granzymes, causing oxidative DNA damage that ultimately lead to apoptosis. These effects, although demonstrated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), have not been investigated in patients with asthma and in particular in smoking asthmatics.Aim: To measure Perforin, Granzyme A, Granzyme B and 8-OHdG expression in sputum from smoking and non-smoking asthmatics, compared to smokers and non-smokers controls.Methods: Perforin, Granzyme A, Granzyme B and 8-OHdG expression levels were detected by ELISA assays, in induced sputum specimens.Results: Perforin expression was increased in 40% of smokers and 45% of smoking asthmatics, while only in 7% of asthma patients (p=0.004), compared to controls’ values. In contrast, Granzymes A and B levels were increased in more that 40% of patients in all three groups versus controls. Finally, 8-OHdG levels were elevated in 35% of smoking asthmatics, in 20% of smokers and only in 10% of asthma patients. Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between Granzyme A (p<0.001) and Granzyme B (p=0.006) expression levels and the number of pack-years in smoking asthmatic patients.Conclusions: Asthma cytotoxic immune response is mainly represented by Granzymes A and B, while in smoking asthmatics Perforin and 8-OHdG are additionally involved, resembling the immune response in COPD.