title: The effect of nedocromil sodium on the bronchoconstrictor effect of neurokinin A in subjects with asthma.
abstract: We have previously demonstrated that the neuropeptide, neurokinin A (NKA) (substance K), causes bronchoconstriction in subjects with asthma. In a double-blind, crossover study we investigated the effect of nedocromil sodium on NKA-induced bronchoconstriction in subjects with asthma. Twelve patients with mild asthma (mean FEV1 percent predicted +/- SE, 87.3 +/- 3.4) inhaled on 2 separate days either nedocromil sodium, 4 mg, or placebo, as two puffs from a metered-dose aerosol, 30 minutes before challenge with NKA. NKA was inhaled at three concentrations (10(-7), 3.10(-7), and 10(-6) mol/ml). The specific airway conductance (SGaw) and FEV1 were measured before and 5 and 15 minutes after each concentration step. On the placebo-treatment day, NKA caused a concentration-dependent decrease in SGaw and FEV1 (mean log for the provocative concentration of NKA causing a 35% fall in SGaw [10(-7) mol/ml], 0.49; mean log for the provocative concentration of NKA causing a 15% fall in SGaw [10(-7) mol/ml], 0.90). The inhalation of 4 mg of nedocromil sodium reduced the decrease in both SGaw and FEV1. The maximal percentage decrease in SGaw on the nedocromil sodium-treatment day was 27 +/- 5.2 (versus placebo, 53.3 +/- 5.4; p less than 0.05), and the maximal percentage decrease in FEV1 was 5.5 +/- 1.4 (versus placebo, 12.4 +/- 2.3; p less than 0.05). The dose-response curves for NKA after nedocromil sodium treatment were significantly shifted to the right compared to the curve after placebo-treatment. We conclude that nedocromil sodium protects against NKA-induced bronchoconstriction in subjects with asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Joos
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pauwels
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Van der Straeten
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017835:Nedocromil; D015288:Neurokinin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015363:Quinolones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015363:Quinolones; D017835:Nedocromil; D015288:Neurokinin A