Inhibitory effect of olopatadine hydrochloride on the sneezing response induced by intranasal capsaicin challenge in guinea pigs

Blunted behavioral and c Fos responses to acidic fumes in the African naked mole-rat

Acidosis in the skin triggers activation of pain pathways and behaviors indicative of pain in vertebrates. The exception is the naked mole-rat, the only known vertebrate to show physiological and behavioral insensitivity to acid pain in the skin. The goal of the present study was to determine behavioral and physiological responses of this species to airborne acidic fumes, which would be expected to affect the trigeminal pain pathway in other species. Behaviorally, naked mole-rats did not avoid fumes from moderately high concentrations of acetic acid (10 and 20%), and c Fos labeling showed no increase in activity in the trigeminal nuclei and nucleus tractus solitarius. In contrast, these concentrations triggered behavioral aversion and increased Fos activity in other laboratory rodents. For a very high concentration of acetic acid (50%), naked mole-rats showed significant avoidance behavior and increased Fos labeling in the nucleus tractus solitarius caudal region, which receives vagal chemosensory information. However, there was no increase in trigeminal labeling, and in fact, activity significantly decreased. This pattern is opposite of that associated with another irritant, ammonia fumes, which elicited an increase in trigeminal but not nucleus tractus solitarius Fos labeling, and no behavioral avoidance. Behavioral avoidance of acidic fumes, but no increased labeling in the trigeminal pain nucleus is consistent with the notion of adaptations to blunt acid pain, which would be advantageous for naked mole-rats as they normally live under chronically high levels of acidosis-inducing CO₂.

Evaluation of the immunity activity of glycyrrhizin in AR mice

In this study, we evaluated effect of glycyrrhizin on immunity function in allergic rhinitis (AR) mice. The AR mice model were induced by dripping ovalbumin in physiological saline (2 mg mL⁻¹, 10 μL) into the bilateral nasal cavities using a micropipette. After the AR model was induced, mice were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control, model, lycopene 20 mg kg⁻¹ (as positive control drug) group, and glycyrrhizin 10, 20, 30 mg kg⁻¹ groups. After the sensitization day 14, lycopene (20 mg/kg BW) and glycyrrhizin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg BW) were given orally for 20 days once a day. Mice in the normal control and model groups were given saline orally once a day for 20 days. Results showed that glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly reduce blood immunoglobulin E (IgE), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-5 (IL-5), interleukin-6 (IL-6), nitrous oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels and nitrous oxide synthase (NOS) activity and enhance blood immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels in AR mice. Furthermore, glycyrrhizin treatment could dose-dependently significantly enhance acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and reduce substance P (SP) level in peripheral blood and nasal mucosa of AR mice. We conclude that glycyrrhizin can improve immunity function in AR mice, suggesting a potential drug for the prevention and therapy of AR.

Olopatadine 0.6% Nasal Spray Protects from Vasomotor Challenge in Patients with Severe Vasomotor Rhinitis

Background

Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is a hypersensitivity syndrome with heightened reactivity to environmental triggers.

Methods

Twenty-two patients with severe VMR were treated nasally with either normal saline or 0.6% olopatadine and challenged nasally with a hyperosmolar mannitol solution.

Results

Treatment with 0.6% olopatadine resulted in an improvement in instantaneous nasal symptom scores at 5 and 30 minutes (p < 0.01) compared with baseline and at 30 minutes after hyperosmolar challenge compared with saline-pretreated individuals (p < 0.01). There was also an improvement in nasal peak inspiratory flow rate at 30 minutes after hyperosmolar challenge compared with saline-pretreated individuals (p < 0.01.

Conclusion

In this patient population 0.6% olopatadine appears to be efficacious in symptom reduction in VMR and protects from hyperosmolar challenge.

Validation of guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis by oral and topical drugs

Ovalbumin-induced guinea pig model of rhinitis was assessed for its utility in the studies of rhinitis. Systemic sensitization and challenge with ovalbumin-induced rhinitis symptoms and an increase in anti-OVA-IgE and IgG titers, positive skin reactions and nasal lavage IL-4 concentration. Histopathology of nasal mucosa showed infiltration of eosinophils and other inflammatory cells consistent with the symptoms. Topical sensitization of ovalbumin yielded inconsistent symptoms of rhinitis. In systemic sensitization model, repeated challenge of ovalbumin caused similar response for at least 3 consecutive challenges. The symptoms were affected by relative humidity in the air and dosing volume of topical drugs. Sneezing and lacrimation were reduced by acute oral administration of the H1 receptor antagonists and steroids or the prophylactic oral administration of cysteinyl leukotriene (CysLT1) receptor antagonist montelukast or acute topical antihistamines, mast cell stabilizer sodium cromoglycate and anticholinergic agent ipratropium bromide, but not by a topical steroid. Nose rubbing was reduced significantly by some oral and topical antihistamines. Oral steroids offered excellent protection against all symptoms. Dexamethasone and montelukast also inhibited nasal lavage IL-4 concentration and inflammatory cell infiltration. Treatment with topical steroid fluticasone for 2 weeks had no effect on sneezing or rubbing. However, it caused complete inhibition of congestion. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin had no effect on symptoms of rhinitis. The adrenergic alpha receptor agonist-decongestant oxymetazoline caused reduction in congestion. These results suggest that differential responsiveness to symptoms of rhinitis by a new agent can be very well profiled in the model in congruence with the mediation pathways and mechanism of action of drugs. The model provides complete symptomatic characterization of rhinitis and is a good tool for its study.

Olopatadine attenuates the enhancement of capsaicin-evoked substance P release by bradykinin from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons

Olopatadine, a second-generation antihistamine, has recently been suggested to have an inhibitory effect on the tachykinin release from guinea-pig tracheobronchial smooth muscle preparation. In the present study, using a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay for substance P, we observed that olopatadine attenuated the enhancement of capsaicin-induced substance P release by bradykinin with an IC(50) value of 12.5 microM, without any inhibitory effect on the substance P release induced by capsaicin, potassium or bradykinin from cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons. These data suggest that olopatadine may therefore be involved in the bradykinin-induced sensitization of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurons.

Mechanisms of capsaicin- and citric-acid-induced cough reflexes in guinea pigs

Previously, we developed a novel coughing model that evoked coughs via citric acid microinjection into the larynx of unanesthetized, unrestrained guinea pigs. Here, we compared the effects of capsaicin and citric acid administration into the larynx using this model. Inhalation of capsaicin (30 microM) or citric acid (0.4 M) for 5 min induced cough mimetic responses over a 10-min observation period (mean +/- S.E.M.: 8.85 +/- 1.60 and 10.40 +/- 1.17 coughs, respectively, n = 18). Microinjection of 0.4 M citric acid into the larynx (20 microl in total in 10 aliquots of 2 microl at 30-s intervals) induced 27.29 +/- 2.69 coughs over a 10-min observation period, whereas microinjection of 3 mM capsaicin evoked a maximum of 8.32 +/- 1.82 coughs (n = 18). Desensitization of C-fibers by capsaicin (100 mg/kg, s.c.) abolished the coughs evoked upon inhalation or microinjection of capsaicin and inhalation of citric acid, but had no significant effect on those induced by microinjection of citric acid. These results indicate that there were fewer non-myelinated C-fiber afferents in the larynx area than in other regions (bronchi or alveoli). Consequently, citric acid microinjected into the larynx may induce the cough reflex by stimulating other fibers (for example, Adelta-fibers), rather than C-fibers. In contrast, inhaled citric acid predominantly stimulated C-fibers, and hardly affected Adelta-fibers.

Cough Reflex Induced by Microinjection of Citric Acid Into the Larynx of Guinea Pigs: New Coughing Model

We developed a new coughing model that evoked coughs by microinjection of citric acid into the larynx in unanesthetized unrestrained guinea pigs; additionally, we recorded synchronous sounds and waveforms of coughing utilizing built-in microphones and a whole body plethysmograph. The coughing model was able to distinguish a coughing response from other expiratory responses, such as an expiratory reflex or a sigh, by examining the waveform of the expiratory response and the existence of sound. It was not necessary to distinguish a cough from a sneeze, since the administration site was restricted to the larynx. Microinjection of 0.4 M citric acid, total of 20 microl (10 times, 2 microl at 30-s intervals), induced coughs (27.03 +/- 4.03 coughs in 10-min observation) that were stable and independent of the inhalation volume. In the inhalation studies, animals were exposed to citric acid only once, because the number of coughs remarkably decreased with repeated administration at intervals of 24 h (tachyphylaxis). However our coughing model was able to repeatedly challenge the microinjection of citric acid at an interval of 24 h. These results indicated that this coughing model was highly sensitive and correctly assessed the cough response.

Pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and clinical properties of olopatadine hydrochloride, a new antiallergic drug

Olopatadine hydrochloride (olopatadine, 11-[(Z)-3-(dimethylamino)propylidene]-6,11-dihydrodibenz[b,e]oxepin-2-acetic acid monohydrochloride) is a novel antiallergic/histamine H1-receptor antagonistic drug that was synthesized and evaluated in our laboratories. Oral administration of olopatadine at doses of 0.03 mg/kg or higher inhibited the symptoms of experimental allergic skin responses, rhinoconjunctivitis and bronchial asthma in sensitized guinea pigs and rats. Olopatadine is a selective histamine H1-receptor antagonist possessing inhibitory effects on the release of inflammatory lipid mediators such as leukotriene and thromboxane from human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and eosinophils. Olopatadine also inhibited the tachykininergic contraction in the guinea pig bronchi by prejunctional inhibition of peripheral sensory nerves. Olopatadine exerted no significant effects on action potential duration in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes, myocardium and human ether-a-go-go-related gene channel. Olopatadine was highly and rapidly absorbed in healthy human volunteers. The urinary excretion of olopatadine accounted for not less than 58% and the contribution of metabolism was considerably low in the clearance of olopatadine in humans. Olopatadine is one of the few renal clearance drugs in antiallergic drugs. Olopatadine was shown to be useful for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria in double-blind clinical trials. Olopatadine was approved in Japan for the treatment of allergic rhinitis, chronic urticaria, eczema dermatitis, prurigo, pruritus cutaneous, psoriasis vulgaris and erythema exsudativum multiforme in December, 2000. Ophthalmic solution of olopatadine was also approved in the United States for the treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis in December, 1996 (Appendix: also in the European Union, it was approved in February 2002).