Although ways to treat allergic rhinitis exist, improved therapies would have a great impact on the health of the more than 30 million Americans who suffer from this problem. Despite the great prevalence of allergic rhinitis, surprisingly little is known abut the events which occur in allergic subjects between antigen inhalation and the development of symptoms. By examining the nasal secretions for the presence of inflammatory mediators and cells before and after exposing the nasal mucosa of volunteers to pollen antigens, this proposal plans to improve the human model of allergic rhinitis in order to better understand the pathophysiology of allergic inflammation. Since the immediate anaphylactic reaction to nasal challenge with antigen does not fully explain the clinical disease, this proposal focuses on the inflammation which occurs after the immediate response.
Specific Aim 1 evaluates the spontaneous recurrence of symptoms and mediators which occurs in approximately 40% of allergic subjects during the first ten hours after nasal challenge.
Aim 2 addresses the issue of the response of subjects to rechallenge with antigen hours after the initial challenge. Recent exposure to antigen reduces the threshold for response to another challenge and may better mimic the response to the repetitive challenges which occur during natural exposure.
Aim 3 is designed to determine if the sensitivity of the nasal mucosa to nonsensitizing, nonantigenic stimuli changes after antigen stimulation. A common denominator of all the specific aims is the evaluation of existing therapies, including antihistamines, topical and systemic corticosteroids, cyclooxygenase inhibitors and immunotherapy, to determine their effect on the response to nasal challenge. Most importantly, this proposal will relate an individual's response to nasal challenge with his symptoms during natural exposure. Development of an in vivo human, nasal laboratory model which accurately predicts a subject's response to seasonal exposure will lead to more rapid understanding of the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis and to the development of new treatments for this common disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS022488-04
Application #
3404944
Study Section
Immunological Sciences Study Section (IMS)
Project Start
1984-12-01
Project End
1990-11-30
Budget Start
1987-12-01
Budget End
1988-11-30
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
1988
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
045911138
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Proud, D; Naclerio, R M; Gwaltney, J M et al. (1990) Kinins are generated in nasal secretions during natural rhinovirus colds. J Infect Dis 161:120-3
Flowers, B K; Proud, D; Kagey-Sobotka, A et al. (1990) The effect of a leukotriene antagonist on the early response to antigen. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 102:219-24
Hedlin, G; Silber, G; Schieken, L et al. (1989) Attenuation of allergen sensitivity early in the course of ragweed immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 84:390-9
Baroody, F; Proud, D; Kagey-Sobotka, A et al. (1989) The effects of H1 antihistamines on the early allergic response. Ann Allergy 63:551-5
Creticos, P S; Marsh, D G; Proud, D et al. (1989) Responses to ragweed-pollen nasal challenge before and after immunotherapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 84:197-205
Wachs, M; Proud, D; Lichtenstein, L M et al. (1989) Observations on the pathogenesis of nasal priming. J Allergy Clin Immunol 84:492-501
Proud, D; Hendley, J O; Gwaltney, J M et al. (1989) Recent studies on the rule of kinins in inflammatory diseases of human airways. Adv Exp Med Biol 247A:117-23
Naclerio, R M; Proud, D; Kagey-Sobotka, A et al. (1989) The effect of cetirizine on early allergic response. Laryngoscope 99:596-9
Togias, A G; Proud, D; Kagey-Sobotka, A et al. (1989) In vivo and in vitro effects of antihistamines on mast cell mediator release: a potentially important property in the treatment of allergic disease. Ann Allergy 63:465-9
Walden, S M; Proud, D; Bascom, R et al. (1988) Experimentally induced nasal allergic responses. J Allergy Clin Immunol 81:940-9

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