The late reaction following bronchial provocation with house dust mite allergen. Dependence on arachidonic acid metabolism

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 393 - 398
• Main Authors: Fairfax, A J, Hanson, J M, Morley, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-05-1983
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Allergens - immunology; Arachidonic Acids - metabolism; Asthma - drug therapy; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - metabolism; Bronchial Provocation Tests; Bronchial Spasm - prevention & control; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Indomethacin - therapeutic use; Male; Mites - immunology; Propionates - therapeutic use; Pyroglyphidae; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249

The involvement of arachidonic acid metabolism in early and late bronchial reactions has been studied in four asthmatic subjects sensitive to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. Pre-treatment with either indomethacin (an inhibitor of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway) or benoxaprofen (an inhibitor of both cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways) failed to affect the amplitude, but did produce some foreshortening of the early response to allergen. If benoxaprofen is an effective inhibitor of SRS-A formation in vivo, then these observations question the role of SRS-A as a spasmogen in allergen-induced bronchospasm. Both drugs were effective inhibitors of the late reaction, implying involvement of cyclo-oxygenase products (endoperoxides, prostaglandins or thromboxanes) in the genesis of a late response to allergen.