Results
Inflammation
INFLAMMATION
Consistent with previous human challenge studies, DE caused a significant increase in neutrophil numbers (p = 0.013), along with a trend towards an increase in eosinophil numbers in bronchial wash (BW), (p = 0.052, Table Inflammation in the bronchial airwaysData are presented as median and (interquartile ranges). Cells in the bronchial wash are expressed as cell numbers/ml and submucosal cells are expressed as cell numbers/mmAll p-values < 0.05 were considered significant, p-values < 0.01 marked boldThe nuclear translocation of p–c-Jun and AhR was increased in the bronchial epithelium after DE exposure (p = 0.004 and p = 0.001 respectively, Table Transcription factors, total (cytoplasmic + nucleus) and nuclear translocationDefinition of abbreviations: Epi. = epithelium, nucl. = nucleus, Subm. = submucosal, leu. = leukocyte. Data are presented as median and (interquartile ranges). Total staining (cytoplasmic + nucleus expression), expressed as % of the selected epithelial area. Staining of the nucleus expressed as the number of positively stained nucleus/mmEpithelial markers of phase 1 and 2 xenobiotic metabolismDefinition of abbreviations: Epi. = epithelium. Data are presented as median and (interquartile ranges). Stained epithelial area expressed as % of the selected epithelial area. Comparisons between post air and DE performed using the Wilcoxon-signed-rang-test (n = 16)AhR nuclear translocation within bronchial epithelium was negatively associated with the CD3Association of detoxification enzyme, transcription factors and submucosal cells in the endobronchial mucosal biopsies. Definition of abbreviations: Epi. = epithelium, nucl. = nucleus, Subm. = submucosal, leu. = leukocyte. Total staining (cytoplasmic + nucleus expression), expressed as % of the selected epithelial area. Staining of the nucleus expressed as the number of positively stained nuclei/mmThe change (expression post DE exposure minus expression post filtered air) in the AhR nuclear translocation within submucosal leukocytes showed a positive association with changes in the submucosal CD