Effect of nasal allergen challenge on serotonin, substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in plasma and nasal secretions

We have studied the changes in concentration of serotonin, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in plasma following a nasal allergen provocation in 14 grass pollen-allergic subjects; in five the urinary excretion of serotonin and 5-hydroxy-indolyl-acetic acid (5-HIAA) was also measur...

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Published inAllergy (Copenhagen) Vol. 43; no. 4; p. 310
Main Authors Tønnesen, P, Hindberg, I, Schaffalitzky de Muckadell, O B, Mygind, N
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Denmark 01.05.1988
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Allergens - pharmacology
Blood Platelets - analysis
Female
Humans
Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid - urine
Male
Nasal Mucosa - metabolism
Nasal Provocation Tests
Serotonin - analysis
Serotonin - blood
Substance P - analysis
Substance P - blood
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - analysis
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - blood
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Summary:We have studied the changes in concentration of serotonin, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in plasma following a nasal allergen provocation in 14 grass pollen-allergic subjects; in five the urinary excretion of serotonin and 5-hydroxy-indolyl-acetic acid (5-HIAA) was also measured. In addition, the concentration of serotonin and substance P was measured in nasal secretions following nasal challenge with allergen and methacholine. The results showed an allergen-induced increase in free plasma serotonin (P less than 0.01) and no change in platelet serotonin, urinary serotonin and urinary 5-HIAA. The plasma substance P level tended to fall (P greater than 0.1), while plasma VIP increased significantly (P less than 0.02). In nasal secretions, there were measurable levels of serotonin in all samples and of substance P in all but one. There was no difference between the concentrations of serotonin and substance P in secretions collected after allergen challenge and after methacholine challenge. For both substances, the secretion median value was comparable to that of plasma. Symptom reduction by topical and systemic pretreatment with a serotonin- and VIP-antagonist before nasal allergen provocation is necessary to define the role of these two agents in allergic rhinitis.
ISSN:0105-4538
DOI:10.1111/j.1398-9995.1988.tb00906.x