title: A proposed autacoid mechanism controlling mastocyte behaviour.
abstract: Evidence is provided here supporting the existence of a novel autacoid mechanism negatively modulating mast cell behaviour in response to noxious stimuli in vivo; hence, the denomination "autacoid local inflammation antagonism" (ALIA). In particular, as lipid amides of the N-acylethanolamine type have been reported to accumulate in tissues in degenerative inflammatory conditions, we examined whether these N-acylated lipids could exert regulatory effects on mast cell activation in vivo. The results reported show that both long- and short-chain N-acylethanolamines, when systemically administered, are effective in reducing mast cell degranulation induced by local injection of substance P in the ear pinna of developing rats. These and other data suggest that the endogenous production of N-acylethanolamines may constitute a local autocrine/paracrine response for the negative feedback control of mast cell responses to various activating signals. Such a process may be of physio-pathological relevance in the regulation of functional neuro-immune-mast cell interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, National Research Council, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Levi-Montalcini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013373:Substance P / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004983:Ethanolamines; C022203:N-acylethanolamines; D013373:Substance P