Cetirizine, a Second-Generation H1 Antagonist, Modulates Rantes and MCP-1 Levels in Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

Chemokines and their receptors are involved in several allergic diseases. We measured RANTES and MCP-llevels in sera of allergic rhinitis patients, and we also evaluated the effect of cetirizine, a secondgeneration HI antagonist, on these chemoattractant proteins.15 subjects were studied (10 males and 5 females; mean age: 26.7 years). They were suffering from perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis induced by Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (8 patients) or by grasses (7 patients). RANTES and MCP-l serum levels were detected with an enzyme immunoassay before and after two weeks of treatment with 10 mg of cetirizine daily, and again after two weeks of washout.Baseline serum levels ofRANTES and MCP-l chemokines were significantly higher (p < 0.02 and p =0.007, respectively) in allergic patients than in the healthy control group. Cetirizine resulted in a significant decrease in RANTES (p < 0.02) and MCP-l (p =0.003) versus baseline values. There is an increase in RANTES and MCP-l in allergic rhinitis, which is counteracted by cetirizine.Several biologically active substances are known to mediate allergic inflammation (1-5). Recently, interest is increasingly being focused on the role of chemokines in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases and on their potential as targets of therapy (6). Discovered over two decades ago (7,8), this burgeoning family of chemoattractant cytokines is involved in inflammatory reactions (9-11). Chemokines and chemokine receptors form a sophisticated system that regulates leukocyte and lymphocyte traffic across various compartments: from the tissue of origin and from the blood to the sites of inflammation. Chemokines affect the synthesis of cellular proteins, the production of other chemokines, and the behaviour of stimulated cells (12). There is low linkage specificity between chemokines and their membrane receptors: a receptor can bind different chemokines, and a chemokine can likewise bind different receptors.The role of chemokines in many inflammatory diseases is well established, but little is known about chemokines in allergic rhinitis. Consequently, the aim of this study was to measure serum levels of RANTES and MCP-l, which are CC chemokines, in patients with allergic rhinitis. The study was devoted to evaluate also the effect of cetirizine, a second-generation HI antagonist, on the RANTES and MCP-l serum levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS PatientsFifteen patients (10 males and 5 females) aged between 14 and 68 years (mean, 26.7 years) were enrolled in the study. Patients were suffering from perennial or seasonal allergic rhinitis. They all had a history of sneezing, nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, and nasal itching. Skin prick test and RAST showed hypersensitivity to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.pt) in 8 patients and to grasses in the other 7 patients. Exclusion criteria were: 1) previous specific immunotherapy for D.pt or grasses; 2) use of drugs that

Epidermal chemokines and modulation by antihistamines, antibiotics and antifungals

“…Cetirizine inhibits the release of CCL2 and CCL5 from IFN‐γ‐stimulated keratinocytes (54). It also suppresses the production of CXCL8 as well as the expression of MHC class II and CD54 molecules in our preliminary study.…”

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of H1 Receptor Antagonist Cetirizine in Animal Models

“…The role of histamine in acute inflammation associated with mast cell degranulation in nonrodent species including man where as its role in chronic inflammation is yet to be established 5 . Cetirizine is used for seasonal allergic rhinitis in children aged 2-6 years 6 . The antiinflammatory effect of cetirizine is similar to that of ibuprofen .The effect of cetirizine on human eosinophils from patients with allergic rhinitis was studied in vitro by Sedgwick and Busse 7 .…”

Downmodulatory Effects of the Antihistaminic Drug Bepotastine on Cytokine/Chemokine Production and CD54 Expression in Human Keratinocytes

“…Epinastine downmodulates Th1 chemokines more extensively than Th2 chemokines [1,2] , whereas fexofenadine suppresses Th2 but not Th1 chemokines [12] . Cetirizine inhibits the release of CCL2 and CCL5 from IFN-␥ -stimulated keratinocytes [13] . Olopatadine significantly suppresses the production of CXCL10 [14] .…”