Suckling reduces allergic skin responses and plasma levels of neuropeptide and neurotrophin in lactating women with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Lactation is associated with an inhibited hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to physical and psychological stress in women and female rats. However, suckling also improved mood and calmness in nonatopic lactating women. Relaxation by humor reduced allergen-induced skin wheal responses, while various forms of stress enhanced those responses in allergic patients. Moreover, enhancement and reduction in allergen-induced skin wheal responses are associated with up- and down-regulation of plasma levels of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), respectively. In addition, plasma levels of SP, VIP and nerve growth factor (NGF), but not neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), are elevated in allergic patients. Therefore, the effects of suckling on allergic responses and plasma levels of neuropeptides and neurotrophins were studied in lactating women with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome (AEDS).


METHODS
Before and after suckling, allergic skin responses to allergens were studied by skin prick test; simultaneously plasma levels of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, nerve growth factor and neurotrophin-3 were measured in lactating women with atopic eczema/dermatitis syndrome.


RESULTS
Suckling reduces allergen-induced, but not histamine-induced, skin wheal responses, while holding infants without suckling failed to do so. Suckling also reduced plasma levels of SP, VIP and NGF, but not NT-3 in these patients, while holding infants without suckling failed to do so.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that suckling reduces allergic responses with a concomitant reduction in plasma levels of SP, VIP and NGF. Collectively, suckling may have some implication in the study of maternal allergy in atopic patients.
Kimata
Hajime
H
Department of Allergy, Ujitakeda Hospital, Uji-City,Kyoto, Japan. unitikah@m12.alpha-net.ne.jp
D000328:Adult; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007774:Lactation / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D013373:Substance P / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor