calcimycin and Drug-Hypersensitivity

The current study characterizes the mechanism by which the aqueous extract of Lycopus lucidus Turcz. (Labiatae) (LAE) decreases mast cell-mediated immediate-type allergic reaction. The immediate-type allergic reaction is involved in many allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic rhinitis. LAE has been used as a traditional medicine in Korea and is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, its specific mechanism of action is still unknown. LAE was anally administered to mice for high and fast absorption. LAE inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic reactions in mice. LAE decreased the local allergic reaction, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis, activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody. LAE dose-dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. Furthermore, LAE decreased the secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated human mast cells. The inhibitory effect of LAE on the pro-inflammatory cytokine was p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) dependent. LAE attenuated PMA plus A23187-induced degradation of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, and specifically blocked activation of p38 MAPK, but not that of c-jun N-terminal kinase and extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Our findings provide evidence that LAE inhibits mast cell-derived immediate-type allergic reactions and involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines, p38 MAPK, and NF-kappaB in these effects.

Topics: Administration, Rectal; Animals; Anti-Allergic Agents; Calcimycin; Calcium; Cell Line; Dinitrophenols; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Eruptions; Drug Hypersensitivity; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Histamine Release; Humans; I-kappa B Proteins; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Interleukin-6; Lycopus; Male; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred ICR; NF-kappa B; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; Phytotherapy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Bleomycin and asparaginase are widely used antineoplastic agents which may induce allergic or inflammatory side-effects. Mast cells are implicated as effector cells in allergic and inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to establish whether bleomycin or asparaginase modulate leukotriene production in vitro and in vivo. Leukotriene C4 (LTC4) production by murine bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) was determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Leukotriene production in patients was assessed by determining leukotriene E4 and N-acetyl-leukotriene E4 in urine by means of combined HPLC and RIA. Bleomycin induced an up to 2.1-fold increase in LTC4 production both in unstimulated and in calcium ionophore-stimulated mast cells. In 3 of 7 patients treated with bleomycin, a greater than 2-fold increase in endogenous leukotriene production was observed. This effect was associated with febrile responses and was most pronounced in a patient who developed an Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Asparaginase increased leukotriene production up to 10-fold in stimulated but not in unstimulated BMMC. In a patient who developed an anaphylactic reaction after treatment with asparaginase, a pronounced increase in urinary leukotriene concentration was observed. In contrast to bleomycin or asparaginase, a number of other cytostatic agents did not significantly change leukotriene production by BMMC. Our data indicate that some of the inflammatory and allergic side-effects of bleomycin and asparaginase could be mediated by leukotrienes, a possible source of which may be mast cells.

Topics: Adult; Anaphylaxis; Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Asparaginase; Bleomycin; Calcimycin; Drug Hypersensitivity; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Inflammation; Ionophores; Leukotriene C4; Leukotriene E4; Leukotrienes; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Mast Cells; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Clinically relevant histamine release caused by drugs and/or their solvents is a well known phenomenon. The mechanisms whereby these reactions occur are largely unknown. It was thought that the solubilizing agents potentiate the histamine release elicited by the drugs. Therefore the ability of the two detergents, Cremophor El and Triton X100, to modulate histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells was examined. Both detergents were used in concentrations that did not themselves induce histamine release. The addition of the detergents to incubation media containing compound 48/80 (0.1 microgram/ml) elevated the release considerably (48/80 alone = 16.2 +/- 2.1% (n = 3); plus Cremophor El (5%) = 41.1 +/- 3.3% (n = 4); plus Triton X100 (0.02 microliter/ml) = 39.7 +/- 3.9% (n = 3); plus Triton X100 (0.01 microliter/ml) = 33.4 +/- 5.0% (n = 3)). In contrast, histamine release induced by Concanavalin A or the calcium ionophore A 23187 was inhibited by both detergents. Thus low concentrations of detergents appear to have a dual role, with both potentiation and inhibition of histamine release being observed. Surgical patients receive many drugs, some soluble in aqueous solutions, others only with the aid of solubilizing agents. 'Hangover effects' due to different plasma half lives, may therefore cause a seemingly harmless drug to act as a histamine liberator. It is therefore important to examine the action of clinically used solvents on histamine liberation caused by therapeutic agents, in order to gain a further understanding of the reaction mechanisms of adverse reactions to drugs.

Topics: Animals; Calcimycin; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Glycerol; Histamine Release; Mast Cells; Octoxynol; p-Methoxy-N-methylphenethylamine; Peritoneal Cavity; Polyethylene Glycols; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

In vitro histamine release from leukocytes of 10 aspirin-intolerant donors in response to the calcium ionophore A23187 and aspirin was compared to that of controls. Incubation with A23187 induced a concentration-dependent histamine release from leukocytes of all donors. At 0.1 and 0.2 micrograms/ml A23187, release from leukocytes of aspirin-intolerant donors was significantly less (p less than 0.01) than that of controls. Preincubation with aspirin failed to alter spontaneous or A23187-stimulated histamine release. Leukocytes of aspirin-intolerant donors do not demonstrate an enhanced sensitivity to histamine release stimulated by aspirin or A23187.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aspirin; Calcimycin; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Histamine Release; Humans; Male; Middle Aged