leukotriene-c4 and Urticaria

Mast cells and their mediators play important roles in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) pathogenesis. Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is expressed in activated mast cells and contributes to airway inflammation in allergic asthma.. To investigate the role of TG2 in CSU.. Patients with CSU (n = 72) and healthy controls (n = 51) were evaluated. Skin biopsy specimens were obtained from 5 patients with CSU and 2 healthy controls. Cord blood-derived human mast cells and peripheral blood-derived human mast cells were activated with IgE. TG2 activity and inflammatory mediators, such as histamine, leukotriene C4, and cytokines, were measured in serum or supernatant from cultured mast cells by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Colocalization of mast cells and TG2 was determined in skin tissues by immunofluorescence.. TG2 activity was significantly higher in serum samples from patients with CSU than in serum samples from healthy controls (P < .001). Colocalization of mast cell surface marker c-kit and TG2 was significantly increased in the lesional skin of patients with CSU compared with that in healthy controls. The levels of histamine, leukotriene C4, tumor necrosis factor α, transforming growth factor β, and interleukins 4, 5, and 6 were significantly higher in patients with CSU than in healthy controls (P < .001). Serum TG2 levels had positive correlations with each inflammatory mediator (P < .001). TG2 activity was increased in cord blood-derived human mast cells (CBMCs) and peripheral blood-derived human mast cells activated with IgE compared with those without activation (P < .05).. Our findings suggest that TG2 expressed in and released from mast cells plays an important role in CSU pathogenesis.

Topics: Adult; Cytokines; Female; GTP-Binding Proteins; Histamine; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Leukotriene C4; Male; Mast Cells; Middle Aged; Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; Skin; Skin Tests; Transglutaminases; Urticaria; Young Adult

In addition to histamine, leukotriene C4 (LTC4) might also play a role in mediating cold urticaria wheals. To study the significance of LTC4 vs. histamine, 6 patients with cold urticaria were challenged with the ice cube test before and after ingestion of 10 mg cetirizine (antihistamine), 10 mg montelukast (leukotriene antagonist) or a combination of both drugs. Cetirizine diminished the cold-induced wheal by 50+/- 42%. Montelukast had no significant effect, and the combination of both drugs diminished the wheal by 37+/- 33%. Furthermore, a skin microdialysis technique detected the release of histamine in the cold-induced wheal, whereas no LTC4 release was detected. In conclusion, the antihistamine is effective and histamine is released, whereas the leukotriene antagonist is not effective and LTC4 is not released in the cold urticaria wheal.

Topics: Acetates; Adult; Anti-Allergic Agents; Cetirizine; Cold Temperature; Cyclopropanes; Female; Histamine; Humans; Leukotriene Antagonists; Leukotriene C4; Male; Middle Aged; Quinolines; Sulfides; Urticaria

After in vitro allergen-specific stimulation, basophils become activated and release sulfidoleukotrienes LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4. This can be detected by means of the CAST assay. We assessed the positivity criteria and the reliability of antigen-specific sulfidoleukotriene production (CAST) in the in vitro diagnosis of betalactam (BL) allergic patients.. We studied a sample of 67 patients (age 48.94 +/- 15.76 years) who had presented with anaphylaxis or urticaria-angioedema within the first 60 minutes after administration of Amoxicillin (54/67), Penicillin G (7/67), Cefuroxime (5/67) or Cefazoline (1/67). All of them had a positive skin test to at least one of the antigenic determinants of Penicillin. As control group 30 adults with negative skin tests who tolerated BL were included. All of them underwent skin tests, oral provocation tests, specific IgE (CAP-FEIA, Pharmacia) and CAST.. Positivity criteria were established by means of ROC curves: a sLT release induced by Betalactams of at least 100 pg/ml and greater than or equal to 3 times the basal value. The overall sensitivity of CAST is 47.7% and specificity 83.3%. Sensitivity of specific IgE is 37.8% and specificity 83.3%.. We have established validated positivity criteria for the CAST technique in patients allergic to Betalactams. This technique is a useful in vitro diagnostic method in patients with IgE-mediated allergy to Betalactam antibiotics.

Topics: Amoxicillin; Anaphylaxis; Angioedema; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cefazolin; Cefuroxime; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Lactams; Leukotriene C4; Leukotriene D4; Leukotriene E4; Leukotrienes; Male; Middle Aged; Penicillin G; Skin Tests; Urticaria

Topics: Animals; Histamine; Humans; Leukotriene C4; Magnoliopsida; Microdialysis; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Skin Tests; Urticaria

Anaphylaxis to paracetamol exists and perhaps nowadays diagnosis is not confined to clinical evidence of: The repeatability of clinical symptoms. Skin tests. Provocation tests. But also by immuno-biological evidence. Application of the test of Activation of basophils by Flow Cytometry and measurement of leukotriene C4 have been nowadays largely validated and constitute irrefutable proof of the responsibility of the drug as the origin of the clinical symptoms.

Topics: Acetaminophen; Adult; Anaphylaxis; Basophil Degranulation Test; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Drug Eruptions; Female; Humans; Leukotriene C4; Middle Aged; Skin Tests; Urticaria

Pharmacological or immunological activation of human basophil induces the expression of membrane markers such as CD63 and the release of histamine and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). LTC4 release test has the advantages of a cellular test which is obviously closer to the physio-pathological reaction than the direct determination of circulating antibodies. Moreover, the determination of a newly formed mediator eliminates the spontaneous release of mediator by simple cellular damage. We present here, after having controlled the reliability of the method for aero-allergens, preliminary results of LTC4 release obtained for haptens (ampicillin, methylprednisolone and acetylsalicylic acid) which are in favour of the use of this method in the complex field of drug allergy diagnosis.

Topics: Adult; Allergens; Ampicillin; Animals; Aspirin; Basophil Degranulation Test; Basophils; Cats; Drug Eruptions; Drug Hypersensitivity; Female; Haptens; Humans; Leukotriene C4; Male; Methylprednisolone; Middle Aged; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Skin Tests; Sulfites; Urticaria

In order to clarify the pathogenetic role of basophils and mast cells in chronic urticaria, histamine and leukotriene (LT)C4 release was examined in washed mixed leukocytes (n = 8) and skin mast cells (n = 5) from patients with chronic urticaria and compared with the same cells from normal controls (n = 9). Anti-IgE-stimulated basophil histamine release was significantly reduced in urticaria patients (median 2.9% vs 15.1% in normal controls), whereas histamine release to A23187, FMLP, and PAF, as well as anti-IgE-induced LTC4 release, showed no differences in both groups. In contrast, anti-IgE-stimulated skin mast cells from urticaria patients reacted similarly to those of controls (median histamine release 11.4% vs 14.2% in normal controls). Pretreatment of the cells with interleukin (IL)-3 upregulated responsiveness of basophil histamine release to anti-IgE in urticaria patients (median histamine release 14.3%), but pretreatment with the H2-antagonist cimetidine showed no effect. These data show that reduced basophil histamine releasability in chronic urticaria is not H2 mediated. It is a stimulus-, mediator-, and cell type-restricted phenomenon that can, at least partially, be reversed in the presence of the cytokine IL-3.

Topics: Adult; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; Basophils; Calcimycin; Cimetidine; Female; Histamine Release; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Interleukin-3; Leukotriene C4; Male; Mast Cells; Middle Aged; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; Platelet Activating Factor; Skin; Urticaria