Release of cyclooxygenase-2 and lipoxin A(4) from blood leukocytes in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

BACKGROUND: The release of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxin A(4) (LXA(4)) from blood mononuclear cells in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is only partially understood. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of COX-2 and LXA(4) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) derived from patients with AERD and with nasal polyps (NP) (designated as the AERD-NP group), patients with NP without AERD (the NP group), and healthy controls without sinus disease (the control group). METHODS: Blood was taken from 14 patients in the AERD-NP group, 6 patients in the NP group, and 8 healthy subjects in the control group. After culturing of human PBMC, the presence of COX-2 protein and LXA(4) (ELISA) was detected in the supernatant, and the results were compared among the groups. RESULTS: COX-2 and LXA(4) were detectable after culturing of PBMC in all patients in the AERD-NP and NP groups and in the control subjects. COX-2 was highest in the patients in the AERD-NP group, but the difference was not significant compared with patients with non-AERD polyp and with the control subjects. LXA(4) was also highest in the AERD-NP group, but the difference was also not significant compared with the patients who were non-AERD polyp and the control subjects. CONCLUSION: Neither the release of COX-2 or LXA(4) was different between the patients with AERD and with NPs, the patients without AERD and with NPs, and the healthy control group. The release of these proteins in AERD needs further investigation.