Effect of procaterol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on skin whealing response caused by inflammatory mediators in asthmatic children.
BACKGROUND
Beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists have been shown to reduce allergen-induced skin whealing responses via inhibition of mediator release.


OBJECTIVE
To study whether beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists have a direct action against inflammatory mediator-induced skin whealing responses.


METHODS
We examined the effect of procaterol, a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, on skin whealing responses to histamine, platelet-activating factor (PAF), substance P, or bradykinin in eight asthmatic children in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. Two hours after taking procaterol (50 micrograms) or placebo orally, the subjects were given these mediators intradermally at a concentration of 10(-5) M.


RESULTS
Procaterol has a small but significant inhibitory effect on wheal formation following the intradermal injection of histamine and PAF by an average of 15% (P < .05) and 18% (P < .05) respectively but not against substance P or bradykinin.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that although beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists may have an inhibitory effect against plasma exudation from microvasculature in the human skin, bronchodilatory effects are more prominent.
Tokuyama
K
K
Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
Maeda
S
S
Arakawa
H
H
Morikawa
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D017265:Procaterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D013373:Substance P / Q000494:pharmacology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D013373:Substance P; D006632:Histamine; D001920:Bradykinin; D017265:Procaterol