Effect of cetirizine and prednisolone on cellular infiltration and cytokine mRNA expression during allergen-induced late cutaneous responses.
BACKGROUND
The ability of cetirizine to inhibit eosinophil infiltration into the sites of allergen-induced cutaneous late-phase reactions is controversial. A previous skin biopsy study gave negative results with 15 mg of cetirizine as a single dose.


OBJECTIVE
To confirm these findings we have used cetirizine (30 mg daily) for 5 days and compared the results with prednisolone (20 mg daily for 5 days) as a positive control. The effect of these agents on mRNA positive cells for interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was also evaluated.


METHODS
A double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study (n = 12) was followed. After each treatment 30 biological units (BUs) of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or Phleum pratense were injected intradermally and the early (15 min) and late-phase response sizes (6 and 24 h) were measured. Skin biopsies were taken at 24 h for immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization.


RESULTS
Cetirizine but not prednisolone inhibited the early-phase response (37%, P = 0.004). In contrast prednisolone, but not cetirizine, significantly inhibited the size of the late-phase reaction at 24 h (70%, P = 0.021). This was associated with significant decreases in total (MBP+) and activated (EG2+) eosinophils (P = 0.019 and 0.014, respectively), as compared with placebo. There were also clear but non-significant reductions in interleukin-3, interleukin-4, interleukin-5 and granulocyte/macrophage-colony stimulating factor mRNA+ cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Prednisolone, but not cetirizine, inhibited both the magnitude of the allergen-induced late-phase response and the accompanying local eosinophil infiltration. These corticosteroid effects were associated with a reduction in cells expressing mRNA for 'TH2-type' cytokines.
Taborda-Barata
L
L
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Heart & Lung Institute, London, UK.
Jacobson
M
M
Walker
S
S
Njuki
F
F
Ying
S
S
Randev
P
P
Durham
S R
SR
Kay
A B
AB
D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D012882:Skin Tests
D000485:Allergens; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011239:Prednisolone; D017332:Cetirizine