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Enhanced responsiveness of ovalbumin‐sensitized guinea‐pig alveolar macrophages to tachykinins
Author(s) -
Brunelleschi Sandra,
Parenti Astrid,
Ceni Elisabetta,
Giotti Alberto,
Fantozzi Roberto
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1992.tb13392.x
Subject(s) - ovalbumin , neurokinin a , substance p , medicine , endocrinology , chemistry , agonist , stimulation , guinea pig , eledoisin , receptor , thromboxane , immunology , biology , neuropeptide , immune system , platelet
1 We have evaluated the ability of substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and the selective NK 2 receptor agonist [β‐Ala 8 ]‐NKA(4–10) to induce superoxide anion (O 2 − ) production and prostanoid (prostaglandin E 2 , thromboxane B 2 ) release from alveolar macrophages (AMs) isolated from control or actively sensitized guinea‐pigs. 2 The dose‐response curves for NKA and SP were shifted to the left (three orders and one order of magnitude, respectively) in AMs isolated from sensitized animals, with no variation in maximal effects. 3 By evaluating the effects of [β‐Ala 8 ]‐NKA(4–10), we observed that not only was the concentration‐response curve shifted to the left in both the functional parameters examined, but also maximal effects were significantly enhanced in AMs isolated from sensitized guinea‐pigs. 4 This varied responsiveness seems to be specific for tachykinins, as it was not reproduced by another AM stimulant, the bacterial peptide N‐formylmethionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP). 5 Only small amounts of β‐glucuronidase were released following tachykinin or ovalbumin stimulation both in control and sensitized AMs. 6 These results indicate that AMs isolated from sensitized guinea‐pigs show an increased responsiveness to NK 2 receptor stimulation and further stress the role played by AMs in allergic lung diseases.