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01-03-2013 | Original Article

Distinctive bronchial inflammation status in athletes: basophils, a new player

Authors: Beatriz Sastre, Mar Fernández-Nieto, María Jesús Rodríguez-Nieto, Erica Aguado, Joaquín Sastre, Victoria del Pozo

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 3/2013

Abstract

The aim of the study was to establish bronchial inflammation status and to measure eicosanoids in sputum obtained from active elite athletes. A total of 68 subjects were enrolled. Twelve were non-athletes and non-asthmatic (NAtNAs), 21 non-athlete asthmatics (NAtAs), 11 athlete non-asthmatics (AtNAs), and 24 athletes with asthma (AtAs) with positive indirect or direct bronchial challenges. Induced sputum was used to measure cells and eicosanoids. Sputum differential cell counts in all the subject groups revealed eosinophilia with the exception of NAtNAs control subjects. Athletes with and without diagnosed asthma showed a significant increase in bronchial epithelial cells and lymphocytes present in their sputum. Also, flow cytometry revealed that a significantly higher number of basophils were present in sputum from athletes (without and with asthma) when compared with non-athletes (without and with asthma). Asthmatic athletes and non-athletes showed a higher increase in LTC₄ levels and PGE₂ metabolites in sputum when compared with healthy controls. The present study identifies basophils as a new player present in athletes bronchial inflammation defining athlete status and not necessarily associated with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

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Title: Distinctive bronchial inflammation status in athletes: basophils, a new player
Authors: Beatriz Sastre
Mar Fernández-Nieto
María Jesús Rodríguez-Nieto
Erica Aguado
Joaquín Sastre
Victoria del Pozo
Publication date: 01-03-2013
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 3/2013
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2475-9

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Distinctive bronchial inflammation status in athletes: basophils, a new player

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