Mm. Riccio et al., EFFECTS OF INTRANASAL ADMINISTRATION OF ENDOTHELIN-1 TO ALLERGIC AND NONALLERGIC INDIVIDUALS, American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 152(6), 1995, pp. 1757-1764
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Emergency Medicine & Critical Care","Respiratory System
Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21 amino acid peptide, and its receptors are di
stributed in the mammalian respiratory tract. To examine the responses
of human upper airways to ET-1, we investigated the effects of intran
asal administration of ET-1 to nine symptomatic allergic and nine nona
llergic volunteers. Paper discs were used to administer ET-1 or diluen
t to one side of the nasal mucosa, and to collect secretions from the
ipsilateral (challenged) and contralateral (opposite) nostrils. ET-1 (
0.3-10 mu g), but not diluent, induced dose-dependent bilateral increa
ses in secretion weights, lysozyme secretion, symptoms of rhinorrhea a
nd itch, and sneezing in both populations. ET-1 did not induce albumin
secretion, histamine release, or symptoms of nasal congestion. Compar
ed with the nonallergic subjects, allergic individuals sneezed more an
d had significantly higher bilateral secretion weights, contralateral
lysozyme secretion, and symptoms of rhinorrhea following ET-1 provocat
ion. In summary, ET-1 induced symptoms relevant to inflammatory upper
airway diseases in allergic and nonallergic subjects. However, respons
es of allergic subjects were more pronounced, particularly with respec
t to symptoms associated with neural reflex responses, such as sneezin
g and contralateral secretion. Therefore, allergic inflammation enhanc
es responsiveness of the nasal mucosa to ET-1.