Effect of salbutamol on nasal symptoms and mast cell degranulation induced by adenosine 5' monophosphate nasal challenge.
BACKGROUND
In addition to its well-known functional agonism at the level of beta(2) adrenergic receptors on airways smooth muscle cells, salbutamol appears to have additional protective effects, possibly through an inhibition of mast cell activation.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to provide the first evidence in vivo of inhibition of human mast cell activation by salbutamol.


METHODS
Nine atopic subjects received placebo and salbutamol (5 mg/mL) 15 min before an adenosine 5' monophosphate (AMP) nasal provocation in a double-blind crossover study design. The nasal lavage was collected from these subjects prior to or 3, 5, 15 or 30 min after the AMP nasal challenge, and concentrations of histamine and tryptase in the nasal lavage were measured.


RESULTS
AMP nasal provocation produced considerable sneezing and induced a transient increase in histamine and tryptase release with peak values achieved at 3 min after the challenge in all the subjects studied. Compared with placebo, salbutamol significantly attenuated the release of histamine and tryptase induced by AMP challenge (P=0.048 and 0.020, respectively). Moreover, the AMP-induced sneezing was also inhibited by pre-treatment with salbutamol (P=0.004).


CONCLUSIONS
Intranasal salbutamol attenuates nasal symptoms and inhibits histamine and tryptase release caused by AMP nasal provocation thus supporting the hypothesis that salbutamol may play an additional protective role in the airways by inhibiting mast cell activation.
Russo
C
C
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialistica, University of Catania, Via Passo Gravina 187, 95125 Catania, Italy.
Zeng
D
D
Prosperini
G
G
Spicuzza
L
L
Guarino
F
F
Polosa
R
R
D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000293:Adolescent; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases / Q000032:analysis; D012912:Sneezing; D053802:Tryptases
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D006632:Histamine; D012697:Serine Endopeptidases; D053802:Tryptases; D000420:Albuterol