Effect of salbutamol on nasal symptoms and mast cell degranulation induced by adenosine 5′ monophosphate nasal challenge

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy 2005-09, Vol.35 (9), p.1192-1196
• Main Authors: Russo, C., Zeng, D., Prosperini, G., Spicuzza, L., Guarino, F., Polosa, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adenosine challenge; Adenosine Monophosphate; Adolescent; Adrenergic beta-Agonists - therapeutic use; Adult; Albuterol - therapeutic use; Allergic diseases; allergic rhinitis; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Degranulation - drug effects; Cross-Over Studies; Depression, Chemical; Double-Blind Method; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; histamine; Histamine - analysis; Humans; Immunopathology; Male; Mast Cells - drug effects; Medical sciences; Nasal Lavage Fluid - chemistry; Nasal Provocation Tests; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal - immunology; salbutamol; Serine Endopeptidases - analysis; Sneezing; tryptase; Tryptases
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2005.02318.x

Summary Background In addition to its well‐known functional agonism at the level of β2 adrenergic receptors on airways smooth muscle cells, salbutamol appears to have additional protective effects, possibly through an inhibition of mast cell activation. Objective The aim of this study is to provide the first evidence in vivo of inhibition of human mast cell activation by salbutamol. Methods Nine atopic subjects received placebo and salbutamol (5 mg/mL) 15 min before an adenosine 5′ monophosphate (AMP) nasal provocation in a double‐blind crossover study design. The nasal lavage was collected from these subjects prior to or 3, 5, 15 or 30 min after the AMP nasal challenge, and concentrations of histamine and tryptase in the nasal lavage were measured. Results AMP nasal provocation produced considerable sneezing and induced a transient increase in histamine and tryptase release with peak values achieved at 3 min after the challenge in all the subjects studied. Compared with placebo, salbutamol significantly attenuated the release of histamine and tryptase induced by AMP challenge (P=0.048 and 0.020, respectively). Moreover, the AMP‐induced sneezing was also inhibited by pre‐treatment with salbutamol (P=0.004). Conclusions Intranasal salbutamol attenuates nasal symptoms and inhibits histamine and tryptase release caused by AMP nasal provocation thus supporting the hypothesis that salbutamol may play an additional protective role in the airways by inhibiting mast cell activation.