ABSTRACT
Background: granzymes [Gz] A and B are recently discovered mediators in asthma and other inflammatory airway diseases and showed minimal suppression by corticosteroids
Aim of the study: to see if there is any difference in both granzymes in induced sputum samples between steroid sensitive and steroid resistant asthmatics
Methods: both granzymes were measured by ELISA assay in induced sputum samples from 27 steroid sensitive [SS] and I 8 steroid resistant [SR] asthmatics plus 15 normal controls
Results: Gz A was significantly higher in SR than SS patients and controls [p<0. 05], but was insignificantly different between SS patients and controls [p>0.05]. Gz B was significantly higher in SR patients than SS patients and controls [p<0.05]. No significant difference was seen between males and females of the studied groups [p >0.05 for all].Significant negative correlations were found between both granzymes and FEVJ% predicted in both SS and SR groups [r=-0.85, r=-0.49for Gz A and r= -0.87, r= 0. 7 for Gz B respectively]. A significant positive correlation was found between the two granzymes in both patient groups [r=0.93 and 0.63 for SS and SR patients respectively]
Conclusion: granzymes A and B are released in the airways of asthmatic patients and could have an important role in asthmatic airway inflammation especially in steroid resistant cases and might play a role in this resistance