Glucocorticoid inhibition of antigen-evoked histamine release from human skin.

Abstract

Prednisolone causes a dose-related inhibition of antigen-evoked histamine release from IgE-sensitized human skin in vitro. The effective concentrations are of the same order as are achieved in plasma therapeutically. Analysis of prednisolone inhibition shows that it acts on the second histamine release stage, antigen—antibody combination being unaffected. In contrast with the traditional view, our results show that, at least in human skin, glucocorticoids can inhibit antigen-evoked histamine release.