Histamine scavenging attenuates endotoxin-induced acute lung injury

Histamine is an important mediator of early and late inflammatory responses. Here we asked whether scavenging of endogenous histamine by the arthropod-derived histamine binding protein EV131 diminishes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) induced by inhaled endotoxin. We demonstrate that EV131 (360 microg given intranasally) reduced endotoxin-induced bronchoconstriction and recruitment of neutrophils. Furthermore, EV131 administration diminished TNF-alpha and protein leak in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The data suggest that histamine attenuates endotoxin-induced bronchoconstriction and neutrophil recruitment. Therefore, scavenging of histamine by EV131 may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in ARDS.