Cellular inflammatory responses and mediator release during early developing late-phase allergic cutaneous inflammatory responses: effects of cetirizine.
BACKGROUND
Events in developing cutaneous late-phase allergic reactions can be characterized by a combination of skin chamber and biopsy approaches. In some previous studies, cetirizine reportedly inhibited mediator release and/or inflammatory cell responses in late-phase reactions.


OBJECTIVE
This study was carried out to determine the effects of cetirizine on early late-phase reactions by using skin chamber and skin biopsy specimens.


METHODS
Skin chamber responses during a 6-hour challenge with pollen antigens were assessed in 15 sensitive subjects during randomized, crossover treatment with cetirizine (20 mg/day) or placebo for 7-day periods with measurements of humoral and cellular components. Biopsy specimens of the underlying dermis were obtained.


RESULTS
During cetirizine treatment, there was significant (p < 0.01) inhibition of immediate wheal and flare reactions to pollen antigens (34, 46%), codeine (41, 65%), and histamine (38, 68%). However, gross late-phase reactions at 6 hours were unaffected. During both cetirizine and placebo treatment, there was significantly greater accumulation at antigen sites in: (1) skin chamber levels of histamine, total cells, lactoferrin, and eosinophil cationic protein; (2) eosinophils (total and activated) on appended cover glasses; (3) deposition of lactoferrin and eosinophil cationic protein in the underlying dermis. However, these responses were not significantly different during cetirizine treatment compared with placebo treatment periods.


CONCLUSIONS
A persistent pattern of inflammatory cell accumulation with release of granule proteins during early late-phase reactions was unaffected by cetirizine treatment.
Atkins
P C
PC
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia 19104-6057, USA.
Zweiman
B
B
Moskovitz
A
A
von Allmen
C
C
Ciliberti
M
M
D000941:Antigens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism*; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017332:Cetirizine