The histamine-induced enhanced expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 by nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts is inhibited by levocetirizine.

BACKGROUND: Histamine, a key chemical mediator in allergic reaction, exhibits an array of pro-inflammatory effects that include the activation of fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether histamine could stimulate nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts to express vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, a surface molecule involved in structural-inflammatory cell interaction and whether levocetirizine could inhibit this induction. METHODS: Primary nasal polyp tissue-derived fibroblasts were stimulated with histamine (10-1000 microM) or interleukin (IL)-4 plus tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (0.5-5 ng/mL) and VCAM-1 expression was evaluated by flow cytometry analysis. The inhibitory effect of the selective H1-antagonist levocetirizine (0.01-10.0 microM) on VCAM-1 expression was also tested. RESULTS: Compared with unstimulated cultures, histamine or IL-4 + TNF-alpha, at the highest concentrations tested, significantly increase VCAM-1 expression (p < 0.05). To evaluate the ability of levocetirizine to downregulate VCAM-1 expression, fibroblasts were stimulated with histamine (1000 microM) or IL-4 + TNF-alpha (5 ng/mL), in the presence of the drug (0.01-10.0 microM). The histamine-induced VCAM-1 expression was effectively inhibited by levocetirizine (0.1-10.0 microM) (p < 0.05). No effect of the drug on IL-4 + TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 expression was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Histamine upregulates VCAM-1 expression on nasal polyp-derived fibroblasts and this phenomenon, relevant to allergic late-phase inflammation, is effectively inhibited by levocetirizine.