Horm Metab Res 2007; 39(4): 273-277
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973809
Original Clinical

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Rapid Inhibitory Effect of Corticosterone on Histamine Release from Rat Peritoneal Mast Cells

C. Liu 1 [] , J. Zhou 1 [] , L.-D. Zhang 2 , Y.-X. Wang 1 , Z.-M. Kang 1 , Y.-Z. Chen 3 , C.-L. Jiang 1
  • 1Laboratory of Stress Medicine, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China
  • 2Department of Pediatrics, Chang-Zheng Hospital, Shanghai, P. R. China
  • 3Institute of Neuroscience, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China
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Publikationsverlauf

received 28. 8. 2006

accepted 4. 12. 2006

Publikationsdatum:
19. April 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Glucocorticoids are steroids endowed with powerful anti-inflammatory properties, which are routinely believed to require several hours to take effect through modulation of gene expression. Our recent report has shown that glucocorticoids could inhibit allergic reaction within 10 minutes, which the classical genomic mechanism could not explain. Histamine is thought to be one of major mediators in the allergic reaction, and IgE-mediated histamine release from mast cells plays a pivotal role in allergic diseases. Here, we have determined a rapid effect of corticosterone on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells, using fluorometric assay. The results showed that corticosterone could inhibit antigen-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal cells within 15 minutes (p<0.05), which could be mimicked by membrane-impermeable BSA conjugated corticosterone (p<0.05). Neither glucocorticoid nuclear receptor antagonist nor protein synthesis inhibitor could block the rapid action (p<0.05). The study provided evidence that nongenomic mechanism might be involved in rapid effect of glucocorticoids on mast cells in allergic disease.

References

1 These authors contributed equally to this study.

Correspondence

C.-L. Jiang

Laboratory of Stress Medicine

Department of Nautical Medicine

Second Military Medical University

Shanghai 200433

PR China

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