To assess whether mast cell and eosinophil (EOS) degranulation occurs in the airway of
subjects with moderately symptomatic asthma, we have measured levels of preformed mast
cell-derived mediators (histamine and tryptase) and EOS-derived mediators (major basic
protein and EOS-derived neurotoxin) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) obtained from
patients with symptomatic (N= 14) and asymptomatic asthma (N= 9) and patients without
asthma (N= 6). Both the FEV 1 (1.52±0.33 L: 55%±15% of predicted FEV 1) and the forced …