triprolidine and Asthma

High levels of histamine can be found in the airways of asthma patients. This study describes the effects of histamine on anti-CD3-induced production of IL-4, IL-5, and IFN-gamma by T cell clones from subjects with allergic asthma and healthy subjects. T cell clones were obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and blood. The number of clones tested, and the percentage of clones in which histamine inhibited or enhanced cytokine production by more than 25%, were as follows: IL-4, 47, 8.5%, and 4.3%; IL-5, 43, 14%, and 30%; and IFN-gamma, 52, 40%, and 15%. Inhibition of IL-5 and IFN-gamma production was reversed by IL-2. The enhancement of IFN-gamma production was associated with an enhancement of both IL-2 production and proliferation. In 21% of the clones a combined effect consisting of inhibition of IFN-gamma production and enhancement of IL-5 production was found. This response was reversed by H2-receptor antagonists and was significantly associated with a histamine-induced increase in intracellular levels of cAMP. The role of cAMP in mediating the histamine effects was supported by the observations that the beta2-agonist salbutamol had effects similar to histamine and that high concentrations of PGE2 mimicked the inhibitory effects of histamine. Clones from BAL fluid and blood showed similar responses, as did clones from patients with asthma and from control subjects. The enhancement of IFN-gamma production by histamine, however, was found only in clones from healthy subjects. The results warrant further investigations on the role of cAMP in the regulation of cytokine production.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Albuterol; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Clone Cells; Cyclic AMP; Dinoprostone; Enzyme Activation; Famotidine; Histamine; Histamine Agonists; Histamine Antagonists; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Histamine H2 Antagonists; Humans; Impromidine; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-2; Interleukin-4; Interleukin-5; Lung; Methylhistamines; Piperidines; Pyridines; Ranitidine; T-Lymphocytes; Triprolidine

Eighty children between 4 and 14 years of age suffering from bronchial asthma were investigated. Fifty-five of them showed clinical and radiological findings of sinusitis. Of these, 13 patients with purulent postnasal drip were treated with ampicillin, phenylephrine and triprolidine (therapy A) and for the other 42 ampicillin was replaced by beclomethasone (therapy B). Thirty-four of 55 children showed improvement in sinus X-rays; 20 children had a considerable decrease in the severity of asthma and many symptoms cleared up after the therapy for sinusitis (P less than 0.001). In conclusion, owing to the high prevalence of sinusitis in children with bronchial asthma, all asthmatic children should be investigated to check for a sinus disease.

Topics: Adolescent; Ampicillin; Asthma; Beclomethasone; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Male; Maxillary Sinus; Phenylephrine; Sinusitis; Triprolidine

In order to investigate the mechanism of late asthmatic response (LAR), inhibitory effects of various drugs for LAR were examined in two wheat flour-sensitive asthmatic subjects who showed immediate and late responses in the allergen provocation test and skin test. Antihistamines did not inhibit the LAR but totally or partially inhibited the immediate response. By contrast, corticosteroids inhibited the LAR but not the immediate response. Disodium cromoglycate inhibited both responses. Diethyl carbamazine citrate, an inhibitor of release of SRS-A, seemed to shorten the duration of the LAR, although it has no effect on the immediate response and/or on the severity of the LAR. Indomethacin and acetyl salicylate, which inhibit prostaglandin synthesis, had no significant effects on either the immediate or the LAR.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Adult; Aspirin; Asthma; Cromolyn Sodium; Diethylcarbamazine; Flour; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Indomethacin; Male; Prednisolone; Time Factors; Triprolidine; Triticum

Topics: Asthma; Bronchitis; Drug Combinations; Humans; Pseudoephedrine; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Seasons; Triprolidine