Behavior and Clinical Relevance of Histamine and Leukotrienes C₄and B₄in Grass Pollen-Induced Rhinitis

Abstract

The release kinetics of histamine and leukotrienes C4 (LTC4) and B4 (LTB4) were investigated in nasal secretions of 10 patients with hay fever after antigen challenge. High levels of biologically active histamine were found in nasal washes from asymptomatic allergic and normal subjects. With repeated lavages, the amount of histamine recovered dropped markedly. Grass pollen challenge was followed by a significant (p less than 0.05) dose-dependent and time-limited (5 min) increase in histamine level in 7 of 10 patients; these values, however, were lower than those found in basal conditions. In 8 of 10 patients with hay fever, antigen challenge induced a significant (p less than 0.05) dose-dependent increase in LTC4 level, which persisted for 30 min. The LTC4 generation was well correlated with the appearance of allergic symptoms; LTB4 production was found in 2 patients only. A different pattern of symptoms was observed after in vivo nasal stimulation with histamine and LTC4. Histamine caused sneezing, itching, rhinorrhea, and nasal obstruction; conversely, the main symptom induced by LTC4 was a more pronounced and longer lasting nasal obstruction.

Nasal eosinophilia induced by PAF-acether is accompanied by the release of eosinophil cationic protein

“…Histamine concentration (mean±SEM) in prechallenge lavages was 15.3±4.5 ng·ml -1 (range 2-50 ng·ml -1 ) in atopic subjects, and 15.4±6.1 ng·ml -1 (range 2-66 ng·ml -1 ) in nonatopic subjects, without any significant difference between the two populations. As observed previously [2,18], the histamine found in prechallenge conditions was not associated with any clinical symptoms. No significant changes in histamine concentration were found after PAF challenge, though a trend towards a reduction was observed in the nasal lavages collected up to 3 h after challenge.…”

“…To evaluate changes in nasal cytology and mediator levels, nasal lavage fluids were collected using a technique described previously [2,18]. Briefly, 5 ml of 0.9% w/v NaCl were instilled into each nostril.…”

“…Every sample was assayed in duplicate and the results were expressed as ng·ml -1 lavage fluid. The results of the radioimmunological assay for iLTC 4 in nasal lavage fluids were previously validated by high performance liquid chromatography analysis [2,18], performed according to the technique of SAUTEBIN et al [23].…”

Quality of life in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis treated with desloratadine monotherapy or desloratadine plus montelucast combination

“…Nasal insufflation studies show that both leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and leukotriene D4 (LTD4) induce an increase in nasal mucosal blood flow and nasal airway resistance. [19][20][21] Montelukast is an orally active, highly selective cysteinyl leukotriene type-1 receptor antagonist of leukotreine D4, with affinities approximately two-fold greater than the natural ligand. It is rapidly absorbed, achieving peak plasma concentration (Cmax) in three to four hours and with a mean bioavailability of 64% following a 10 mg oral administration.…”

Asthma and leukotrienes: antileukotrienes as novel anti‐asthmatic drugs

“…The oral route of administration appears to carry some possible advantages over conventional therapies. Apart from the potentially favourable effect of oral admininistration on patient compliance with asthma therapy, there are several indications that antileukotrienes also prevent some of the symptoms in rhinitis (254)(255)(256). It is well established that a large proportion of asthmatics suffer from rhinitis [257] and it would therefore seem to be an added benefit for this new group of asthma medication to alleviate some of the rhinitic symptoms as well.…”