Passive smoking elevates neurotrophin levels in tears

Abstract

The effect of passive smoking on levels of neurotrophin in tears was studied in normal subjects or patients with atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC). Basal levels of neurotrophins, nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and NT-4, in tears were significantly higher in AKC patients than those in normal subjects. Passive smoking had no effect on levels of neurotrophin in tears of normal subjects, while it elevated levels of NGF, BDNF, NT-3 and NT-4 in tears of AKC patients. These results indicate that passive smoking elevates levels of neurotrophin in tears, which in turn may aggravate AKC.

Keywords

atopic keratoconjunctivitis neurotrophin passive smoking tear

References

Kulig M , Luck W , Lau S , Niggemann B , Bergmann R , Klettke Um Guggenmoos-Holzman I , Wahn U . Effect of pre-and postnatal tobacco smoke exposure on specific sensitization to food and inhalant allergens during the first 3 years of life. Multicenter Allergy Study Group, Germany . Allergy 1999; 54: 220-228 .

Kimata H . Passive smoking enhances allergic skin wheal responses in patients with atopic/eczema dermatitis syndrome . ACI Int 2003; 15: 44-45 .

Noga O , Hanf G , Schaper C , O'Connor A , Kunkel G . The influence of inhalative corticosteroids on circulating nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor and neurotrophin-3 in allergic asthmatics . Clin Exp Allergy 2001; 31: 1906-1912 .

Kimata H . Enhancement of allergic skin wheal responses in patients with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome by playing video games or by a frequent ringing mobile phone . Eur J Clin Invest 2003; 33: 513-517 .

Virchow JC , Julius P , Lommatzsch M , Luttmann W , Renz H , Braun A . Neurotrophins are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after segmental allergen provocation . Am J Resp Crit Care Med 2003; 198: 455-467 .

Grewe M , Vogelsang K , Ruzicka T , Stege H , Krutmann J . Neurotrophin-4 production by human epidermal keratinocytes: increased expression in atopic dermatitis . J Invest Dermatol 2000; 114: 1108-1112 .

Vesaluoma M , Muller L , Gallar J , Lambiase A , Moilanen J . Effects of oleoresin capsicum pepper spray on human corneal morphology and sensitivity . Invest Ophthalmol Visual Sci 2000; 42: 2138-2147 .

Kunz B , Oranje AP , Labreze L , Stalder JF , Ring J , Taieb A . Clinical validation and guidelines for the SCORAD index: consensus report of the European task force on atopic dermatitis . Dermatology 1997; 195: 10-19 .

Uchio E , Ono SY , Ikezawa Z , Ohno S . Tear levels of interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in patients with vernal keratoconjunctivitis, atopic keratoconjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis . Clin Exp Allergy 2000; 30: 103-109 .

10.

Ghazi-Nouri SM , Assi A , Limb GA , Scott RA , von Bussmann K , Humpohery I , Luthert PJ , Charteris DG . Laser photocoagulation alters the pattern for staining for neurotrophin-4, GFAP, and CD68 in human retina . Br J Ophthalmol 2003; 87: 488-492 .

11.

Nassenstein C , Braun A , Erpenbeck VJ , Lommatzsch M , Schmidt S , Krug N , Luttman W , Renz H , Virchow JC Jr . The neurotrophins nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neurotrophin-3, and neurotrophin-4 are survival and activation factors for eosinophils in patients with allergic bronchial asthma . J Exp Med 2003; 198: 455-467 .