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Abstract
Human mast cell tryptase, a marker for mast cell degranulation, was immunologically measured in nasal lavage fluids (NALF) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF) from subjects exposed to 0.4 ppm ozone (O3) for 2 hr with intermittent exercise. Tryptase antigen was significantly elevated in the NALF immediately postexposure to O3 (p - .0008) in comparison to samples taken immediately after exposure to air. Additionally, an examination of data from five subjects, serving as their own controls, revealed elevated tryptase levels immediately postexposure (p - .015) and 18 hr after exposure (p - .026), in comparison to corresponding samples obtained with air exposure. An examination of BALF samples (n - 9) from these same subjects 18 hr after exposure showed that tryptase was significantly (p - .01) elevated. These data suggest that O3 exposure results in mast cell degranulation and that mast cell-derived mediators may contribute to the physiological effects noted with O3 inhalation.