Differential release of MIP-1alpha and eotaxin during infection of mice by Histoplasma capsulatum or inoculation of beta-glucan.

OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we evaluated the levels of MIP-1alpha and eotaxin and in vivo migration in the peritoneal cavity model, in mice inoculated with live yeast forms of Histoplasma capsulatum or the beta-glucan cell wall component of this fungus, and the influence of a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor, MK886, on the release of these chemokines in relation to cell recruitment. MATERIALS: Female outbred Swiss mice (N = 4-5 per group, 3-4 wk, were used. Mice were injected i.p. with 1 ml of the 6 x 10(5) live yeast form of the fungus or with 10 microg of beta-glucan from the cell wall fraction, and treated daily with MK886 (1 mg kg(-1), p.o.) or vehicle. RESULTS: The fungus induced rapid generation of high levels of MIP-1alpha, which remained elevated from 4-48 h whereas very little eotaxin was detected at any time point (Fig. 1A and B). In contrast, the beta-glucan induced a little MIP-1alpha but considerably higher concentrations of eotaxin within the first four hours; however, the level of neither chemokine was sustained (Fig. 2A and B). Treatment of animals with MK886 was effective in reducing the numbers of neutrophils, eosinophils and, to a lesser degree, mononuclear cells accumulating in the peritoneal cavity in response to both the live fungus (Fig. 1C-E) and the cell wall beta-glucan (Fig. 2C-E). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that chemokines and leukotrienes may play key roles in the inflammatory cell influx to H. capsulatum infection or to the inoculation of the beta-glucan cell wall component of this fungus

Eotaxin and the attraction of eosinophils to the asthmatic lung.

Eosinophilic leukocytes accumulate in high numbers in the lungs of asthmatic patients, and are believed to be important in the pathogenesis of asthma. A potent eosinophil chemoattractant is produced in the asthmatic lung. This small protein, the chemokine eotaxin, is synthesized by a number of different cell types, and is stimulated by interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, which are produced by T-helper (Th)2 lymphocytes. Low molecular weight compounds have been developed that can block the eotaxin receptor C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)3, and prevent stimulation by eotaxin. This provides the potential for orally available drugs that can prevent eosinophil recruitment into the lung and the associated damage and dysfunction.

Eotaxin is specifically cleaved by hookworm metalloproteases preventing its action in vitro and in vivo.

Eotaxin is a potent eosinophil chemoattractant that acts selectively through CCR3, which is expressed on eosinophils, basophils, mast cells, and Th2-type T cells. This arm of the immune system is believed to have evolved to control helminthic parasites. We hypothesized that helminths may employ mechanisms to inhibit eosinophil recruitment, to prolong worm survival in the host. We observed that the excretory/secretory products of the hookworm Necator americanus inhibited eosinophil recruitment in vivo in response to eotaxin, but not leukotriene B(4), a phenomenon that could be prevented by the addition of protease inhibitors. Using Western blotting, N. americanus supernatant was shown to cause rapid proteolysis of eotaxin, but not IL-8 or eotaxin-2. N. americanus homogenate was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography, and a FACS-based bioassay measured the ability of each fraction to inhibit the activity of a variety of chemokines. This resulted in two peaks of eotaxin-degrading activity, corresponding to approximately 15 and 50 kDa molecular mass. This activity was specific for eotaxin, as responses to other agonists tested were unaffected. Proteolysis of eotaxin was prevented by EDTA and phenanthroline, indicating that metalloprotease activity was involved. Production of enzymes inactivating eotaxin may be a strategy employed by helminths to prevent recruitment and activation of eosinophils at the site of infection. As such this represents a novel mechanism of regulation of chemokine function in vivo. The existence of CCR3 ligands other than eotaxin (e.g., eotaxin-2) may reflect the evolution of host counter measures to parasite defense systems.

Eotaxin and eosinophil recruitment: implications for human disease.

Eosinophils have been implicated in a broad range of diseases, notably allergic conditions (for example, asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis) and other inflammatory disorders (for example, inflammatory bowel disease, eosinophilic gastroenteritis and pneumonia). These disease states are characterized by an accumulation of eosinophils in tissues. Severe tissue damage ensues as eosinophils release their highly cytotoxic granular proteins. Defining the mechanisms that control recruitment of eosinophils to tissues is fundamental to understanding these disease processes and provides targets for novel drug therapy. An important discovery in this context was the identification of an eosinophil-specific chemoattractant, eotaxin. Over the past six years there has been intensive investigation into the biological effects of eotaxin and its role in specific disease processes and this is the subject of this review.

[The role of chemokines in nasal polyps]. / Die Rolle von Chemokinen bei Nasenpolypen.

Nasal polyposis is an inflammatory condition of the nose and the sinuses characterised by a marked infiltration of eosinophils in addition to lymphocytes, mast cells and macrophages. The selective recruitment of eosinophils to inflammatory sites is mediated by CC chemokines such as Eotaxin and Eotaxin-2. In the present study histology, immunohistochemistry and ELISA were performed. The levels of Eotaxin and Eotaxin-2 and for comparison other chemokines RANTES and IL-8 were measured in nasal polyp tissue and in control nasal tissue. On histological examination 6 polyps showed an oedematous structure, one was glandular and one had a fibromatous pattern, while all showed a marked eosinophil infiltration. Immunohistochemistry of the polyps showed that epithelial cells were strongly positive for Eotaxin and IL-8, whereas endothelial cells stained positive for Eotaxin-2. Significantly higher amounts of Eotaxin, Eotaxin-2 and IL-8 were detected in polyp tissue when compared with control middle turbinates. The increased levels of eosinophil-stimulating chemokines, such as Eotaxin and Eotaxin-2 in nasal polyps suggest that they may be important regulators of eosinophil recruitment in this inflammatory disease.

Early bronchial hyperresponsiveness following injection of sephadex beads in the guinea pig: involvement of platelet activating factor and thromboxane A2.

The effects of an intravenous injection (i.v.) of Sephadex beads (20 mg kg(-1)) were examined on bronchial responsiveness to ACh (1-200 microg kg(-1) i.v.) as well as on cell accumulation in guinea-pig lung. Bronchial hyperreactivity to ACh, measured as increase in pulmonary insufflation pressure (PIP), was observed 3 h following the i.v. injection of Sephadex beads. However, no significant increase in bronchial reactivity to ACh was measured at 6 and 12 h following Sephadex injection. A second later increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness was observed at 24 h. Bronchoalveolar lavage performed at 3 h following Sephadex treatment showed that there was no significant increase in total or differential cell number. At 6 h and 12 h, a significant increase in total cell counts was observed. At 24 h, a greater than 5-fold increase in cell number was observed and was related to a marked eosinophil, neutrophil and macrophage infiltration. A platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonist, CV-3988 (10 mg kg(-1) i.v.), and a thromboxane A2 (TxA2) antagonist, L655,240 (10 mg kg(-1) i.v.), significantly attenuated the Sephadex-induced bronchial hyperresponsiveness to ACh observed at 3 h. The results show that an i.v. injection of Sephadex beads in guinea pigs can induce an early bronchial hyperresponsiveness to ACh that is mediated by the release of both PAF and TxA2 and is independent of airway cell infiltration.

Eotaxin levels and eosinophils in guinea pig broncho-alveolar lavage fluid are increased at the onset of a viral respiratory infection.

In previous studies we found that guinea pigs demonstrate an increase in airway reactivity and eosinophil numbers 4 days after a respiratory infection with parainfluenza-3 (PI3) virus. Clinical data support the possible involvement of eosinophils in virus-induced airway hyperresponsiveness. Eotaxin, a newly discovered chemokine, could be involved in eosinophil migration to the airways. In this study, eosinophil numbers were counted in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and related with eotaxin concentrations in BAL fluid 1, 2, 3, and 4 days after intratracheal PI3 virus administration. On day 1, blood eosinophils increased by more than 200% (P < 0.01). The number of eosinophils were only slightly enhanced from day 2 to day 4 (40%-70%). BAL fluid eosinophils were not increased on day 1 but were significantly elevated on day 2 (180%) and remained high on days 3-4 (>300%, P < 0. 05). This increase in lung eosinophils correlated well with eotaxin levels measured in BAL fluid. There was no significant increase in eotaxin on day 1 following PI3 infection; however, on days 2-4 eotaxin levels in BAL fluid were significantly elevated (four-sixfold increase) when compared with medium inoculated controls. Eotaxin appears to play an important role in eosinophil accumulation in guinea pig lung following PI3 infection.

Cloning and characterization of the guinea pig eosinophil eotaxin receptor, C-C chemokine receptor-3: blockade using a monoclonal antibody in vivo.

Certain C-C chemokines, signaling via the eotaxin receptor C-C chemokine receptor-3 (CCR3), are thought to be central mediators of eosinophil accumulation in allergic inflammation. To investigate the role of CCR3 in vivo, we cloned the guinea pig eotaxin receptor (guinea pig CCR3) from a genomic DNA library. We isolated a single-exon open reading frame coding for a 358-amino acid chemokine receptor protein with 67 and 69% homology to human and murine CCR3, respectively. When expressed in stable transfectants, this receptor bound 125I-labeled guinea pig eotaxin, 125I-labeled human monocyte chemotactic protein-3, and 125I-labeled human RANTES. In chemotaxis assays, guinea pig CCR3 transfectants responded only to guinea pig eotaxin, with a maximal effect at 100 nM. mAbs were raised that bound selectively to both guinea pig CCR3 transfectants and guinea pig eosinophils. One of these mAbs, 2A8, blocked both ligand binding to transfectants and their chemotaxis in response to eotaxin. The Ab also inhibited chemotaxis and the elevation of cytosolic calcium in guinea pig eosinophils in response to eotaxin. F(ab')2 fragments of 2A8 were prepared that retained the ability to inhibit eosinophil calcium responses to eotaxin. Pretreatment of (111)In-labeled eosinophils in vitro with F(ab')2 2A8 selectively inhibited their accumulation in response to eotaxin in vivo. These data demonstrate that functional blockade of eosinophil chemokine receptors can be achieved in vivo and provide further support for the development of novel anti-inflammatory drugs targeting eosinophil recruitment through chemokine receptor antagonism.

Kinetics of eotaxin generation and its relationship to eosinophil accumulation in allergic airways disease: analysis in a guinea pig model in vivo.

Challenge of the airways of sensitized guinea pigs with aerosolized ovalbumin resulted in an early phase of microvascular protein leakage and a delayed phase of eosinophil accumulation in the airway lumen, as measured using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Immunoreactive eotaxin levels rose in airway tissue and BAL fluid to a peak at 6 h falling to low levels by 12 h. Eosinophil numbers in the tissue correlated with eotaxin levels until 6 h but eosinophils persisted until the last measurement time point at 24 h. In contrast, few eosinophils appeared in BAL over the first 12 h, major trafficking through the airway epithelium occurring at 12-24 h when eotaxin levels were low. Constitutive eotaxin was present in BAL fluid. Both constitutive and allergen-induced eosinophil chemoattractant activity in BAL fluid was neutralized by an antibody to eotaxin. Allergen-induced eotaxin appeared to be mainly in airway epithelium and macrophages, as detected by immunostaining. Allergen challenge of the lung resulted in a rapid release of bone marrow eosinophils into the blood. An antibody to IL-5 suppressed bone marrow eosinophil release and lung eosinophilia, without affecting lung eotaxin levels. Thus, IL-5 and eotaxin appear to cooperate in mediating a rapid transfer of eosinophils from the bone marrow to the lung in response to allergen challenge.

Psychological effects of chronic exposure to 50 Hz magnetic fields in humans living near extra-high-voltage transmission lines.

The validity of several published investigations of the possibility that residential exposures to 50 Hz or 60 Hz electromagnetic fields might cause adverse psychological effects, such as suicide and depression, may have been limited by inadequate controlling for confounders or inadequate measurement of exposures. We investigated the relationships between magnetic field exposure and psychological and mental health variables while controlling for potential confounders and careful characterising individual magnetic field exposures. Five-hundred-and-forty adults living near transmission lines completed neuropsychological tests in major domains of memory and attentional functioning, mental health rating scales and other questionnaires. Magnetic field measurements were taken in each room occupied for at least one hour per day to provide an estimate of total-time-integrated exposure. The data were subjected to joint multivariate multiple regression analysis to test for a linear relation between field exposure and dependent variables, while controlling for effects of possible confounders. Performance on most memory and attention measures was unrelated to exposure, but significant linear dose-response relationships were found between exposure and some psychological and mental health variables. In particular, higher time-integrated exposure was associated with poorer coding-test performance and more adverse psychiatric symptomatology. These associations were found to be independent of participants' beliefs about effects of electromagnetic fields.

The role of the eosinophil-selective chemokine, eotaxin, in allergic and non-allergic airways inflammation.

Blood eosinophilia and tissue infiltration by eosinophils are frequently observed in allergic inflammation and parasitic infections. This selective accumulation of eosinophils suggested the existence of endogenous eosinophil-selective chemoattractants. We have discovered a novel eosinophil-selective chemoattractant which we called eotaxin in an animal model of allergic airways disease. Eotaxin is generated in both allergic and non-allergic bronchopulmonary inflammation. The early increase in eotaxin paralleled eosinophil infiltration in the lung tissue in both models. An antibody to IL-5 suppressed lung eosinophilia, correlating with an inhibition of eosinophil release from bone marrow, without affecting eotaxin generation. This suggests that endogenous IL-5 is important for eosinophil migration but does not appear to be a stimulus for eotaxin production. Constitutive levels of eotaxin observed in guinea-pig lung may be responsible for the basal lung eosinophilia observed in this species. Allergen-induced eotaxin was present mainly in the epithelium and alveolar macrophages, as detected by immunostaining. In contrast there was no upregulation of eotaxin by the epithelial cells following the injection of sephadex beads and the alveolar macrophage and mononuclear cells surrounding the granuloma were the predominant positive staining cells. Eotaxin and related chemokines acting through the CCR3 receptor may play a major role in eosinophil recruitment in allergic inflammation and parasitic diseases and thus offer and attractive target for therapeutic intervention.

Eosinophils and neutrophils modify arachidonic acid-induced relaxation of guinea-pig trachea.

The influence of inflammatory cells on airway reactivity was investigated on arachidonic acid-induced relaxations of guinea-pig trachea and on arachidonic acid metabolism in guinea-pig tracheal epithelial cells. The presence of either eosinophils or neutrophils (1.0 x 10(7) cells/ml), from bronchoalveolar lavage, decreased the tracheal relaxations induced by arachidonic acid (1.0-30 microM). The basal synthesis of prostaglandin E2 was increased in epithelial cells (from 176 +/- 36 to 7920 +/- 898 pg/ml), eosinophils (from 360 +/- 56 to 2693 +/- 686 pg/ml) and neutrophils (from 352 +/- 81 to 4400 +/- 272 pg/ml) following incubation with arachidonic acid (10 microM). The co-incubation of either eosinophils or neutrophils with epithelial cells, in the presence of arachidonic acid, decreased the synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (2600 +/- 686 and 4400 +/- 272 pg/ml respectively) but increased the synthesis of thromboxane B2 (from 60 +/- 6 to 11634 +/- 840 and 9282 +/- 485 pg/ml respectively). Similarly, when major basic protein-treated (100 micrograms/ml) epithelial cells were incubated with arachidonic acid, the prostaglandin E2 synthesis decreased (75%) but thromboxane B2 synthesis was unaffected. The results suggest that eosinophils and neutrophils may impair arachidonic acid metabolism in guinea-pig epithelium in favor of production of bronchoconstrictor prostanoids.

Relaxant effects of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) on epithelium-intact and -denuded guinea-pig trachea: a comparison with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP).

The effect of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP 1-27) was examined on epithelium-intact and -denuded guinea-pig tracheal strips (GPT) and compared to vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and salbutamol. PACAP (10(-11)-10(-8) moles) induced dose-dependent relaxations of the basal tone of both epithelium-intact and -denuded GPT. PACAP was approximately three times less potent than either VIP or salbutamol in relaxing epithelium-intact GPT. The relaxant effects of both peptides and salbutamol were markedly attenuated following removal of the epithelial layer. L-NAME (10(-4) M), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, did not affect the responses induced by either PACAP or VIP demonstrating that the relaxant effect is independent of nitric oxide synthesis. Phosphoramidon (5 x 10(-6) M) potentiated the relaxant responses of epithelium-intact GPT to both PACAP and VIP but did not affect the responses of epithelium-denuded GPT. PACAP and VIP also induced relaxations of the guinea-pig upper bronchus. In addition, PACAP (10(-6) M), as well as VIP, significantly inhibited the release of TxB2 induced by LTD4 (10(-7) M) from chopped guinea-pig lung suggesting that this newly isolated peptide, which has 68% homology with VIP, may possess anti-inflammatory action in the lung.

Effect of tumor necrosis factor receptor binding protein on cell infiltration induced by lipopolysaccharide and Sephadex beads in guinea pig lung.

In the present study, the effect of a tumor necrosis factor receptor binding protein (TNFbp) on the cell infiltration induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Sephadex beads in guinea pig lung was examined. The intratracheal injection of LPS (2.5 micrograms) induced a six-fold increase in total cell number recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid at 24 hr. This increase in bronchopulmonary inflammation was mainly due to a neutrophil and macrophage infiltration, representing 60% and 35% of the total cells, respectively. The intravenous or intratracheal injection of Sephadex beads to guinea pigs induced a three-fold increase in total cell number recovered in BAL at 24 h and was characterized by a prominent eosinophil, macrophage, and neutrophil infiltration representing 36%, 42%, and 16% of the total cells, respectively. In addition, bronchial tissues isolated from Sephadex-treated guinea pigs showed an increased in vitro reactivity to both histamine and acetylcholine. TNFbp (1-50 micrograms) induced a dose-dependent inhibition of cell infiltration induced by LPS. In contrast TNFbp neither attenuated the bronchopulmonary cell infiltration observed 24 h following intravenous or intratracheal administration of Sephadex beads nor inhibited the increase in bronchial reactivity. These results show that TNF plays an important role in cell infiltration induced by LPS, but not that induced by Sephadex, in the guinea pig lung.

Inhibition by rapamycin of leukocyte migration and bronchial hyperreactivity induced by injection of Sephadex beads to guinea-pigs.

1. The effect of rapamycin (0.001 to 5 mg kg-1) on the increased leukocyte counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and hyperreactivity of isolated bronchial strips to histamine and acetylcholine (ACh) was studied following the intravenous injection of Sephadex beads to guinea-pigs. 2. The intramuscular (i.m.) injection of rapamycin (0.012 to 5 mg kg-1) dose-dependently inhibited the increase in leukocyte counts in BAL fluid. Rapamycin (5 mg kg-1) reduced the numbers of eosinophils neutrophils, macrophages and lymphocytes in BAL fluid by 64, 55, 19 and 50% respectively. In addition, rapamycin (0.012 to 5 mg kg-1) significantly inhibited the Sephadex-induced hyperreactivity of bronchial tissue to both histamine and ACh. 3. At a dose of 0.001 mg kg-1, rapamycin did not significantly reduce leukocyte infiltration or bronchial hyperreactivity. 4. Cyclosporin (5 mg kg-1) significantly reduced both lymphocyte and eosinophil numbers in BAL fluid of Sephadex-injected guinea-pigs whereas dexamethasone (1 mg kg-1) significantly reduced lymphocyte numbers. Neither drug affected the bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine and ACh. 5. It is concluded that the new immunosuppressive drug, rapamycin, is a potent inhibitor of leukocyte migration and bronchial hyperreactivity observed following the intravenous injection of Sephadex beads to guinea-pigs. Rapamycin also appears to be more effective than cyclosporin or dexamethasone in reducing leukocyte counts and bronchial hyperreactivity in this model. 6. Our results suggest that inflammatory mechanisms which are inhibited by rapamycin may be important in the induction of Sephadex-induced hyperreactivity.

Reduction of Sephadex-induced lung inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity by rapamycin.

Rapamycin is a macrolide antibiotic whose potent immunosuppressor activity was recently described in vivo and in vitro. The aim of the present work was to determine if rapamycin could affect an established inflammatory response. Conscious pathogen-free Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (300-400 g) were injected intravenously with Sephadex beads (G50, superfine, 10 to 40 microns, 24 mg/kg) to induce lung inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was collected 2, 12 and 24 h after Sephadex administration and the cells were counted. Bronchial tissue was used to construct dose-response (contraction, g) curves to histamine and acetylcholine 24 h after the Sephadex injection, using a cascade system. Results are presented as area under the log dose-response curves. Test animals were injected with rapamycin (5 mg/kg) or its vehicle by the intramuscular route either 2 or 12 h after Sephadex injection and BAL fluid collected 24 h after Sephadex administration. Rapamycin administration 2 h after Sephadex reduced eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers in BAL by 52 and 55%, respectively, but not ex vivo bronchial hyperreactivity induced by Sephadex injection. However, rapamycin administration 12 h after Sephadex reduced BAL eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers (55 and 62%, respectively) and bronchial hyperreactivity. The increase in neutrophil numbers in BAL induced by Sephadex injection was not modified by rapamycin. Since lymphocyte numbers in BAL were significantly increased in Sephadex-treated animals at 12 h but not at 2 h after Sephadex injection, the present results suggest that the inhibition of bronchial hyperreactivity by rapamycin may be dependent on the presence of lymphocytes elicited into the airways by Sephadex injection.

Reduction of Sephadex-induced lung inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity by rapamycin

Rapamycin is a macrolide antibiotic whose potent immunosuppressor activity was recently described in vivo and in vitro. The aim of the present work was to determine if rapamycin could affect an established inflammatory response. Conscious pathogen-free Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs (300-400 g) were injected intravenously with Sephadex beads (G50, superfine, 10 to 40 microns, 24 mg/kg) to induce lung inflammation and bronchial hyperreactivity. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was collected 2, 12 and 24 h after Sephadex administration and the cells were counted. Bronchial tissue was used to construct dose-response (contraction, g) curves to histamine and acetylcholine 24 h after the Sephadex injection, using a cascade system. Results are presented as area under the log dose-response curves. Test animals were injected with rapamycin (5 mg/kg) or its vehicle by the intramuscular route either 2 or 12 h after Sephadex injection and BAL fluid collected 24 h after Sephadex administration. Rapamycin administration 2 h after Sephadex reduced eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers in BAL by 52 and 55 per cent , respectively, but not ex vivo bronchial hyperreactivity induced by Sephadex injection. However, rapamycin administration 12 h after Sephadex reduced BAL eosinophil and lymphocyte numbers (55 and 62 per cent , respectively) and bronchial hyperreactivity. The increase in neutrophil numbers in BAL induced by Sephadex injection was not modified by rapamycin. Since lymphocyte numbers in BAL were significantly increased in Sephadex-treated animals at 12 h but not at 2 h after Sephadex injection, the present results suggest that the inhibition of bronchial hyperreactivity by rapamycin may be dependent on the presence of lymphocytes elicited into the airways by Sephadex injection

Vasoactive intestinal peptide and helodermin inhibit the release of cyclo-oxygenase products induced by leukotriene D4 and bradykinin from guinea-pig perfused lung.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP, 10 nM) inhibited the release of cyclo-oxygenase products, detected by both bioassay and radioimmunoassay, induced by leukotriene (LT) D4 (3-30 pmol) and bradykinin (BK, 3-30 nmol) from guinea-pig isolated perfused lung. Helodermin (10 nM), a peptide that is structurally related to VIP, and salbutamol (10 nM), a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, evoked a similar inhibitory effect on LTD4-induced release of cyclo-oxygenase products. The generation of TxB2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha following stimulation with exogenously administered arachidonic acid (30-300 nmol) was not significantly attenuated in the presence of either VIP, helodermin or salbutamol. These results show that VIP, helodermin and salbutamol are potent inhibitors of the release of cyclo-oxygenase products induced by agonists known to activate endogenous arachidonic acid metabolism in guinea-pig lung. Since the metabolism of exogenously administered arachidonic acid was not inhibited these results suggest that the inhibitory effect may be exerted on events preceding the mobilisation of arachidonic acid and may involve cyclic AMP.

Betel-nut chewing and asthma.

Two Asian patients admitted to hospital with acute severe asthma had been chewing betel nut immediately before the attacks. Arecoline, a cholinergic alkaloid, is a major constituent of Areca catechu (betel) nut and causes the euphoric effects. We sought an association between betel-nut chewing and bronchoconstriction in asthmatic patients. In vitro, arecoline caused dose-related contraction of human bronchial smooth-muscle strips, with one-tenth the potency of methacholine. In a double-blind challenge study, inhalation of arecoline caused bronchoconstriction in six of seven asthmatic patients and one of six healthy subjects; methacholine caused bronchoconstriction in all the asthmatic patients and in five controls. The geometric mean concentrations of arecoline and methacholine that caused 20% falls in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (PC20 FEV1) in the asthmatic subjects were 5.2 mg/ml and 1.6 mg/ml, respectively. We then studied four Bengali asthmatic patients, regular users of betel nut, during a betel-nut challenge. Three showed no adverse effects, but one showed a 30% fall in FEV1 by 150 min after chewing; the effect was reproducible. In the UK, the rate of hospital admission for acute asthma is higher among Asians than among other groups in the population; betel-nut chewing may be one of several factors that affect asthma control and severity of attacks.

Effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide, helodermin and galanin on responses of guinea-pig lung parenchyma to histamine, acetylcholine and leukotriene D4.

1. The effect of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) was studied on the contractile response of guinea-pig lung parenchymal strips (GPP) induced by bronchoconstrictor agonists, such as leukotriene D4 (LTD4), histamine and acetylcholine (ACh). This effect of VIP was compared with helodermin, a peptide that is structurally related to VIP, and galanin, another neuropeptide that is thought to co-exist with VIP. 2. VIP (10 nM) induced a potent and reversible inhibition of the contractions of GPP induced by LTD4 (1-30 pmol) but did not affect those due to ACh (1-100 nmol) or histamine (1-30 nmol). A ten fold higher concentration of VIP (100 nM) did not further inhibit LTD4-induced responses or reduce those induced by histamine or ACh. 3. Helodermin (10 nM) had a similar inhibitory effect on contractions of GPP induced by LTD4 (3-30 pmol) but did not affect contractions induced by histamine (1-10 nmol). 4. Indomethacin (2.8 microM) and salbutamol (10 nM) significantly reduced responses elicited by LTD4 and histamine but not those due to ACh. A ten fold higher concentration of salbutamol (100 nM) further inhibited the contractions due to LTD4 and histamine and at this concentration responses induced by ACh were inhibited. 5. VIP (10 nM) and helodermin (10 nM) significantly reduced the LTD4-induced release of thromboxane A2 (TXA2), measured as TxB2 by radioimmunoassay, from GPP. The smaller release of TxA2 induced by histamine was not significantly reduced in the presence of VIP. 6. In comparative studies, galanin (10-100 nM) did not affect contractions of GPP induced by either LTD4, histamine or ACh. In contrast to VIP and helodermin, both at 0.1-3 nmol, which induced doserelated relaxations of guinea-pig trachea, galanin was inactive on this preparation in doses of up to 3 nmol.7. In conclusion, our results show that contractions of GPP induced by LTD4 are more sensitive to inhibition by VIP and helodermin than are contractions due to histamine or ACh. This inhibition appears to be associated with the different contribution of released TxA2 to contractions evoked by the agonists. VIP and helodermin inhibit the cyclo-oxygenase-dependent component of the LTD4-induced response, as in the case of indomethacin.