Nitric oxide participates in prick test and irritant patch test reactions in human skin

The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of nitric oxide (N O) in the modulation of immediate and delayed immunological and nonimmunolo gical reactions in human skin. The NO donor nitroglycerin, 0.1 mug, and the NO synthase inhibitor, NC-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME), 0.1 mug, were injecte d intracutaneously prior to provocation tests. The following provocation te sts were carried out: 8 patients with pollen allergy to birch were provoked by a prick test with the allergen and the volume of the weals was measured ; 20 patients with allergy to nickel were provoked with nickel sulfate epic utaneously; and 26 healthy volunteers were provoked with tuberculin (causin g delayed immunologic reaction), benzalkonium chloride (irritant contact de rmatitis), UV radiation or benzoic acid (nonimmunological contact urticaria ), The test reactions were evaluated by planimetry, L-NAME inhibited irrita nt contact dermatitis (P = 0.020) but augmented immediate immunological rea ctions (prick test) (P = 0.016), The other test reactions remained unchange d. Nitroglycerin did not affect any of the reactions significantly. The res ults suggest that NO is involved in immediate immunological reactions and i rritant contact dermatitis.