Eosinophils and Leukotrienes

The cells that are known sources of leukotrienes are mast cells (Scott and Kaliner, 1993), basophils, monocytes (LTB4 and LTC4 Czop and Austen, 1985) and eosinophils (Weller et al., 1983). Leukotrienes cause bronchoconstriction (Bisgaard et al., 1983 Smith et al.. 

mucosal edema, mucus secretion (Marom et al., 1982), and BHR (O Hickey etcd., 1991). Inhaled LTG, and LTD4 are approximately 6000 times more potent than H and produce a more sustained response in asthmatics (Weiss et al., 1983). Airways of asthmatics were approximately 14-, 25-, 6-, 9- and 219-fold more responsive to H, methacholine, LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4, respectively, than normal subjects (Arm et al., 1990)., LTE4 inhalation can induce eosinophilic infiltration into asthmatic airways (Laitinen et al., 1993a). 

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