leukotriene-d4 and Sneezing

Ganoderma lucidum (GL), an oriental medical mushroom, has been used in Asia for the prevention and treatment of a variety of diseases. However, the effect of GL on allergic rhinitis has not been well defined. The current study describes the inhibitory effect of GL on the biphasic nasal blockage and nasal hyperresponsiveness induced by repeated antigen challenge in a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis. Intranasally sensitized guinea pigs were repeatedly challenged by inhalation of Japanese cedar pollen once every week. Ganoderma lucidum was orally administered once daily for 8 weeks from the time before the first challenge. The treatment with GL dose-dependently inhibited the early and late phase nasal blockage at the fifth to ninth antigen challenges. Furthermore, nasal hyperresponsiveness to intranasally applied leukotriene D₄ on 2 days after the eighth antigen challenge was also inhibited by the treatment with GL. However, Cry j 1-specific IgE antibody production was not affected by the treatment. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the pollen-induced biphasic nasal blockage and nasal hyperresponsiveness were suppressed by the daily treatment with GL in the guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis. These results suggest that GL may be a useful therapeutic drug for treating patients with allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Animals; Antigens, Plant; Area Under Curve; Biological Products; Cryptomeria; Guinea Pigs; Immunoglobulin E; Leukotriene D4; Male; Nasal Obstruction; Pollen; Reishi; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Sneezing

We evaluated the effectiveness of oral treatment with Japanese cedar pollen on experimental allergic rhinitis in guinea pigs.. Male Hartley guinea pigs.. From 16 days before the first sensitisation, 1 and 100 mg/time/animal pollen suspension was orally administered twice weekly. Animals were then sensitised and repeatedly challenged with the pollen.. Guinea pigs were sensitised by intranasal instillation of cedar pollen extracts adsorbed onto Al(OH)3 at a dose of 0.3 microg pollen protein/0.3 mg Al(OH)3/3 microl/nostril twice a day for 7 days. Then the animal was challenged by inhalation with cedar pollen (1.8 mg/nostril) once every week. We evaluated the effects of the oral treatment with antigen on: 1) sneezing frequency, 2) nasal blockage after antigen challenge, 3) nasal hyperresponsiveness to histamine and leukotriene D4, and 4) titres of anaphylactic antibodies.. During the course of the high dose administration, several animals died from a possible cytotoxicity, whereas the low dose caused no discernible change. The oral administration of the pollen at both the doses significantly inhibited nasal blockage, and the hyperresponsiveness to the stimuli was also strongly suppressed by the oral treatment. Inhibitory effectiveness did not differ substantially between the 1 and 100 mg/animal-treated groups. In contrast, neither sneezing frequency nor the increasing level of anaphylactic antibodies was influenced by the oral administration.. In this study, we found that the pollen-induced nasal blockage and hyperresponsiveness were suppressed by the oral administration of the pollen in the sensitised guinea pig.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Airway Resistance; Animals; Antigens; Cedrus; Guinea Pigs; Histamine; Hypersensitivity; Immunoglobulin E; Leukotriene D4; Male; Nasal Obstruction; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis; Pollen; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Sneezing

We have developed an allergic rhinitis model in guinea pigs using Japanese cedar pollen as antigen. In the present study, we examined whether provocation by pollen induces similar magnitudes of rhinitis symptoms in passively and actively sensitized guinea pigs. One group of animals was actively sensitized by intranasal application of pollen extract, and another was passively sensitized by intraperitoneal injection with anti-pollen serum. Actively and passively sensitized groups were then challenged by repeated and a single pollen inhalation, respectively. In both groups, sneeze was induced immediately after the challenge. The actively sensitized animals developed not only early but also late nasal blockage, whereas the passively sensitized animals showed only early nasal blockage. In both groups, an H1 antagonist, mepyramine, inhibited the occurrence of sneezing but did not inhibit nasal blockage. Nasal hyperresponsiveness to intranasal instillation of leukotriene D4 was obvious only in the actively sensitized animals. We thus conclude that although early nasal blockage is induced by a single antigen-antibody reaction, repetitive anaphylactic reaction is required for occurrence of late nasal blockage and hyperresponsiveness to stimuli. Furthermore, histamine plays a central role in induction of sneezing but not in nasal blockage, irrespective of whether animals are actively or passively sensitized.

Topics: Airway Resistance; Animals; Guinea Pigs; Histamine; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Immunization, Passive; Leukotriene D4; Male; Nasal Provocation Tests; Pollen; Pyrilamine; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Sneezing; Trees; Vaccination