[Leukotrienes in allergic inflammatory reactions]. / Leukotrijeni u reakcijama alergijske inflamacije.

Production of leukotrienes, lipooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism, plays an important role in inflammatory reactions, particularly well studied in bronchial asthma. Lipooxigenase-5 and lipooxygenase-activating protein-5 are crucial in the production of leukotrienes with potent biological activities. Leukotriene B4 is a leukocytic chemoattractant and it induces aggregation and adherence of leukocytes to endothelial vasculature. Sulfidopeptid leukotrienes (C4, D4 and E4) are potent bronchoconstrictors, producing mucous secretion in the airways and increasing vascular permeability. Leukotrienes participate in the process of inflammation, as well as in early and late asthmatic responses. They are found in the blood, liquid obtained upon bronchoalveolar lavage as well as in the urine, irrespectively whether bronchospasm developed spontaneously or it was induced by an allergen. Administration of the specific leukotriene receptor antagonists or leukotriene synthesis inhibitors ameliorates the symptoms and signs of bronchial asthma.

[Laboratory diagnosis of allergic inflammation]. / Laboratorijska dijagnostika alergijske inflamacije.

Monitoring of allergic inflammation includes direct examination of biopsy specimens from mucosa and epithelium, and indirect study by sputum, bronchoalveolar and nasal lavage fluid and peripheral blood. Although, some of these detection assays are not applicable to clinical use, it is now possible to measure a number of inflammatory mediators released from cells participating in allergic disease. The release of performed histamine from peripheral blood basophils challenged with specific antigen remains a valuable in vitro correlate of immediate hypersensitivity reactions. However, other mediators such as LTC4 and IL-4 are also generated by basophils upon IgE dependent activation. Tryptase and PGD2 are released from mast cells upon activation. Eosinophils contain in their granules proteins that cause damage to the bronchial epithelium: MBP and ECP. It is possible to measure soluble markers from other cells (T cells, macrophages, platelets, endothelial cells) involved in allergic inflammation. Detection of mediators have produced data that have significantly added to our understanding of the mechanisms and allowed better pharmacological control of allergic inflammation.

[IL-1, TNF and IL-6 production by alveolar mononuclear cells in patients with sarcoidosis]. / Stvaranje interleukina-jedan, faktora nekroze tumora i interleukina-sest od strane alveolnih mononuklearnih celija kod bolesnika sa sarkoidozom pluca.

Cytokines produced by locally activated T cells and macrophages have central role in lymphocyte alveolitis and granuloma formation, and it is beleived that they regulate activity and further progression of sarcoidosis. The aim of our study was to evaluate the levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) production by bronchoalveolar mononuclear cells in 6 patients With sarcoidosis. The obtained results showed increased IL-6 levels in patients with active disease, IL-1 activity did not follow clinical changes, while TNF was detectible only in one patients.