Background: Granzymes (Gz) A and B are recently discovered mediators in asthma and other inflammatory airway diseases and showed minimal suppression by corticosteroids
Aim of the study: to see if there is any difference in both granzymes in induced sputum samples between steroid sensitive and steroid resistant asthmatics.
Methods: Both granzymes were measured by ELISA assay in induced sputum samples from 27 steroid sensitive (SS) and 18 steroid resistant (SR) asthmatics plus 15 normal controls
Results: Gz A was significantly higher in SR than SS patients and controls (p0.05). Gz B was significantly higher in SR patients than SS patients and controls (p0.05 for all).Significant negative correlations were found between both granzymes and FEV1% predicted in both SS and SR groups (r=-0.85, r=-0.49for Gz A and r= -0.87, r= -0.7 for Gz B respectively). A significant positive correlation was found between the two granzymes in both patient groups (r=0.93 and 0.63 for SS and SR patients respectively).
Conclusion: Granzymes A and B are released in the airways of asthmatic patients and could have an important role in asthmatic airway inflammation especially in steroid resistant cases and might play a role in this resistance
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