A naturally occurring opioid peptide from cow's milk, beta-casomorphine-7, is a direct histamine releaser in man.
beta-Casomorphine-7, a naturally occurring product of cow's milk with opiate-like activity, was studied for possible direct histamine liberation activities in humans. It was found to cause concentration-dependent in vitro histamine release from peripheral leukocytes of healthy adult volunteers. Intradermal injection of beta-casomorphine-7 induced a wheal and flare reaction in the skin similar to histamine or codeine. Oral pretreatment with the H1 antagonist terfenadine significantly inhibited the skin responses to beta-casomorphine-7. The intradermal injection of an opiate receptor antagonist, naloxone, inhibited in vitro histamine release and skin reactions only in a 100-fold excess over beta-casomorphine-7. These findings suggest that beta-casomorphine-7 can be regarded as a noncytotoxic, direct histamine releaser in humans. The clinical relevance of these findings deserves further studies.
Kurek
M
M
Department of Dermatology, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich.
Przybilla
B
B
Hermann
K
K
Ring
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003061:Codeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007271:Injections, Intradermal; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012882:Skin Tests
D004723:Endorphins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D009270:Naloxone; C041128:beta-casomorphin 7; D003061:Codeine