Summary
Substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were assayed in lesions and normal skin of patients with dermographism and cold urticaria utilizing suction-induced blisters. There was no difference in SP and VIP concentrations between challenged and control skin of urticaria patients. On the whole, however, the concentration of both neuropeptides, and VIP in particular, was higher in the urticaria patients than in control subjects. CGRP levels were not increased. SP and VIP in blood samples from veins draining challenged skin areas were below the detection limit. It is concluded that SP and VIP may potentiate histamine in wheal formation and thus contribute to the increased reactivity of the skin to trauma and temperature changes in patients with physical urticaria.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Brain SD, Williams TJ, Tippins JR, Morris HR, MacIntyre I (1985) Calcitonin in gene-related peptide is a potent vasodilator Nature 313:54–56
Brodin E, Lindefors M, Theodorsson-Norrheim E, Peterson L, Bartfai T, Ögren S-O, Rosell S (1985) Tachykinins in rat central nervous system (distribution, molecular forms, release and effects of chronic treatment with antidepresant drugs). In: Håkanson R, Sundler F (eds) Tachykinin antagonists. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 15–27
Champion RH, Roberts SOB, Carpenter RG, Roger JH (1969) Urticaria and angio-oedema. A review of 554 patients. Br J Dermatol 81:588–597
De Laus FV, Winkelmann RK (1968) Kinins in cold urticaria. Arch Dermatol 98:67–74
Fjellner B, Hägermark Ö (1981) Studies on pruritogenic and histamine-releasing effects of some putative peptide neurotransmitters. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 61:245–250
Greaves MW, Sondergaard J (1970) Urticaria pigmentosa and factitious urticaria. Arch Dermatol 101:418–425
Grunditz T, Ekman R, Håkanson R, Rerup C, Sundler F, Uddman R (1987) Calcitonin gene-related peptide in thyroid nerve fibers and C cells. Endocrinolgy (in press)
Hartschuh W, Weihe E, Reinecke M (1983) Peptidergic (neurotensin, VIP, substance P) nerve fibers in the skin. Immunohistochemical evidence of an involvement of neuropeptides in nociception, pruritus and inflammation. Br J Dermatol 109 [Suppl 25]:14–17
Helme RD, White DM, Andrews PV (1985) Neurogenic inflammation in skin blisters. Exp Brain Res 59:382–387
James J, Warin RP (1969) Factitious whealing at the site of previous cutaneous response. Br J Dermatol 81:882–884
Kaplan AP, Gray L, Shaff RE, Horáková Z, Beaven MA (1975) In vivo studies of mediator release in cold urticaria and cholinergic urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol 55:394–402
Kaplan AP, Horáková Z, Katz SI (1978) Assessment of tissue fluid histamine levels in patients with urticaria. J Allergy Clin Immunol 61:350–354
Keahey TM, Greaves MW (1980) Cold urticaria. Arch Dermatol 116:174–177
Kiistala U (1968) Suction blister device for separation of viable epidermis from dermis. J Invest Dermatol 50:129–137
Piotrowski W, Foreman JC (1985) Some effects of calcitonin gene-related peptide in human skin and on histamine release. Br J Dermatol 114:37–46
Soter NA, Wassermann SI, Austen KF (1976) Cold urticaria: release into the circulation of histamine and eosinophil chemotactiv factor of anaphylaxis during cold challenge. N Engl J Med 294:687–690
Tóth-Kása I, Jancsó G, Obál F, Husch S, Simon N (1983) Involvement of sensory nerve ending in cold and heat urticaria. J Invest Dermatol 80:34–36
Wallengren J, Ekman R, Möller H (1986) Substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide in bullous and inflammatory skin disease. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 66:23–28
Wallengren J, Ekman R, Sundler F (1987) Occurrence and distribution of neuropeptides in the human skin. An immunochemical and immunocytochemical study on normal skin and blister fluid from inflamed skin. Acta Derm Venereol (Stockh) 67, 185–192
Wallengren J, Håkanson R (1987) Effects of substance P, neurokinin A and calcitonin gene-related peptide in human skin and their involvement in sensory nerve-mediated responses. Eur. J Pharm (in press)
Winkelmann RK, Wilhelmj CM, Horner FA (1965) Experimental studies on dermographism. Arch Dermatol 92:436–442
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wallengren, J., Möller, H. & Ekman, R. Occurrence of substance P, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and calcitonin gene-related peptide in dermographism and cold urticaria. Arch Dermatol Res 279, 512–515 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413281
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00413281