Release of cyclooxygenase-2 and lipoxin A4 from blood leukocytes in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease

BACKGROUND The release of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and lipoxin A4 (LXA4) 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 LXA4 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 LXA4 (ELISA) was detected in the supernatant, and the results were compared among the groups. RESULTS COX-2 and LXA4 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. LXA4 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 LXA4 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.