Phospholipase A_2 and arachidonate increase in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after inhaled antigen challenge in asthmatics

摘要

Phospholipases A_2 (PLA)_2 hydrolyze hpospholipids resulting in the release of fatty acids including ar- achidonic acid (AA) and lysophospholipids. AA. In turn, serves as a substrate for the synthesis of leu- kotrienes which can cause bronchoconstriction and airways edema and appear to be important media- tors of clinical asthma. Further, iysophospholipids may be cytotoxic and/or impair the function of surfactant. We examined the release of secretory PLA_2 (sPLA_2) and AA into the airways after antigen challenge in 16 subjects with allergic asthma.