Evaluation of anti-allergic activity of gossypin and suramin in mast cell-mediated allergy model.

The mast cell-mediated allergic reactions are involved in many allergic diseases, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and sinusitis. Stimulation of mast cells initiates the process of degranulation, resulting in the release of mediators such as histamine and an array of inflammatory cytokines. In this report, we investigated the effect of gossypin (a biflavonoid) and suramin (a synthetic polysulphonated naphtylurea) on the mast cell-mediated allergy model, and studied the possible mechanism of their action. Both gossypin and suramin inhibited (P<0.001) compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis reactions, antiprurities (P<0.001) and reduced the histamine release in rats. Further, both showed significant (P<0.001) protection against rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80. Thus, our findings provide evidence that gossypin and suramin inhibit mast cell-derived allergic reactions.

Autologous serum skin test in chronic idiopathic urticaria: prevalence, correlation and clinical implications.

Some cases of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) have histamine-releasing IgG autoantibodies in their blood. This disease subgroup is called "autoimmune urticaria". To date, the autologous serum skin test (ASST) is the best in vivo clinical test for the detection of basophil histamine-releasing activity in vitro. This study aimed to find the prevalence of ASST positive cases in Thai patients with CIU, to identify factors related to the positivity of ASST and to find the clinical implications of ASST in CIU. A retrospective study was performed among 85 CIU patients who attended the Urticaria Clinic at the Department of Dermatology, Siriraj Hospital and were willing to perform ASST, from January 2002 to December 2003. Twenty-one (24.7%) patients had a positive ASST. There was no significant difference between patients with positive ASST and negative ASST as to the severity of the disease (wheal numbers, wheal size, itching scores and the extent of body involvement) as well as the duration of the disease.

Evaluacion de la liberacion de Histamina para el diagnostico de alergia y farmacos mediante un metodo inmunoenzimatico competitivo (ELISA), en poblacion aparentemente sana y poblacion alergica / Evaluation of the liberation of Histamina for I diagnose of allergy to farmacos, by means of metodo inmunoenzimatico competitive (ELISA), in population apparently it heals and alergica population

La alergia a fármacos es un problema importante en salud pública, que día a día tiene mayor. repercusión en nuestra población. Lamentablemente en nuestro medio no se le otorga la debida importancia; por lo que no contamos con fuentes de referencia sobre la incidencia y las consecuencias de esta patología. Esta realidad, también la falta de procedimientos para un diagnostico correcto y de verdadero beneficio para las personas alérgicas, que permitan la identificación de él o los fármacos que potencialmente podrían causar reacciones nocivas y así permitir el uso de medicamentos sin el temor de ocasionar una reacción adversa. En este sentido, pretendimos adecuar una nueva prueba de laboratorio destinada a evaluar la liberación de histamina como una alternativa diagnóstica que sea precisa y que oriente a tomar las acciones más adecuadas en el caso de pacientes con sospecha cíe alergia

Comparison of basophil histamine releasability between atopic and nonatopic thmatics

To compare the mediator releasability between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics, we measured basophil histamine releasability (BaHR) using a calcium-ionophore A23187 and anti-IgE in 137 subjects who were treated at Seoul National University Hospital. Subjects were categorized into atopic (group AA, n=77) or nonatopic asthmatics (group NA, n=32), or normal controls (group NC, n=28). Serum total IgE levels were determined and correlation with BaHR was assessed. Anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR in groups AA, NA, and NC was 41.0+/-3.2, 23.1+/-4.5, and 16.8+/-3.8, respectively (mean+/-SE, %). Anti-IgE-induced BaHR in group AA was significantly higher than that in groups NA and NC (p<0.05). Calcium ionophore A23187-induced maximal BaHR was 43.1+/-2.8, 40.8+/-4.4, and 50.5+/-5.2, respectively (mean+/-SE, %), and there was no significant difference among the groups. Serum total IgE level correlated significantly with anti-IgE-induced maximal BaHR (r=0.281, p<0.01) but not with that induced by calcium ionophore A23187. In conclusion, IgE receptor-related BaHR is higher in atopic asthmatics than in nonatopic asthmatics, and this increased BaHR in atopics is significantly associated with increased serum total IgE level.