Arthropod-derived protein EV131 inhibits histamine action and allergic asthma.
Histamine is an important mediator of allergic responses. Arthropods express several biologically active proteins in their saliva, which may allow a prolonged blood meal on the host. Proteins identified and expressed include histamine, serotonin, tryptase, and complement binding proteins. We review here data that scavenging of endogenous histamine by the histamine-binding protein EV131 has a profound inhibitory effect on allergic asthma. Aerosol administration of EV131 prevented airway hyperreactivity and abrogated peribronchial inflammation, eosinophil recruitment, mucus hypersecretion, and IL-4 and IL-5 secretion. Saturation with histamine abrogated the inhibitory effect of EV131 on bronchial hyperreactivity. The data suggest that histamine plays a role in allergies and that scavenging of histamine by EV131 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of allergic diseases.
Weston-Davies
Wynne
W
Evolutec Ltd., Reading, United Kingdom.
Couillin
Isabelle
I
Schnyder
Silvia
S
Schnyder
Bruno
B
Moser
Rene
R
Lissina
Olga
O
Paesen
Guido C
GC
Nuttall
Patricia
P
Ryffel
Bernhard
B
D000818:Animals; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001181:Arthropods; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011506:Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D011506:Proteins