Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

Measuring Local Anaphylaxis in Mice
Published on: October 14, 2014
In Vivo Cysteinyl Leukotriene Release in Allergic and Nonallergic Immediate Hypersensitivity Reactions during
Dominique Laroche1, Pierre Léturgie, Delphine Mariotte
1From the Laboratory of Hormonology (D.L.) and Laboratory of Immunology and Immunopathology (D.M., B.L.M.), Pôle Biologie, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France; Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Pôle Santé Léonard De Vinci, Tours, France (P.L.); Department of Allergology, Pôle Médecine, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France (Y.O.); Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Pôle Réanimations Anesthésie Service d'Aide Médicale Urgente, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France (J.-L.H.); Department of Clinical Research and Biostatistics, Pôle Recherche et Epidémiologie Clinique, Caen University Hospital, Caen, France (J.-J.P.); Equipe d'Accueil (EA) 4650, Université Caen Normandie, Unité de Formation et de Recherche de Médecine, Caen, France (J.-L.H.); French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), U919, Serine Proteases and Pathophysiology of the Neurovascular Unit, and UMR CNRS 6232 Ci-NAPs, Cyceron, Caen, France (B.L.M.); and EA 2656, Université Caen Normandie, Unité de Formation et de Recherche de Médecine, Caen, France (J.-J.P.).
Background:
Immediate hypersensitivity reactions occurring during anesthesia are classified as allergic when skin tests and mast cell tryptase are positive and as nonallergic when negative results are obtained. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are potent mediators synthesized by mast cell and eosinophil that induce bronchial constriction. They could play a role in hypersensitivity reactions.
Methods:
cysLT C4, D4, and E4 concentrations were measured by a competition immunoassay in serial plasma samples obtained prospectively from 21 anesthetized controls and retrospectively from 34 patients who reacted at induction of anesthesia (24 with allergic and 10 with nonallergic reactions).
Results:
In controls, the median (interquartile range) cysLT concentration was 0.83 (0.69 to 1.02) μg/l before anesthesia and was unchanged 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h afterward. In the patients with allergic reactions, the values were highly increased 30 to 60 min after the reaction (17.9 [7.8 to 36.0] μg/l), while the patients with nonallergic reactions had less increased values (7.3 [3.0 to 11.5] μg/l). The difference between the three groups was significant (P < 0.0001). Increased values persisted during the 24 h of observation. Concentrations were significantly higher in patients with bronchospasm (P = 0.016).
Conclusions:
cysLTs appear to be an important mediator of allergic and nonallergic immediate hypersensitivity reactions. These findings might open a new field for management of patients with hypersensitivity reactions, especially nonallergic ones.
Related Concept Videos
Allergic Reactions: Anaphylaxis
Antiasthma Drugs: Leukotriene Modifiers
Leukotriene modifiers work through two distinct mechanisms:
Allergic Reactions
Allergic Drug Reactions
Hypersensitivities
Types of Hypersensitivities
Hypersensitivity reactions are categorized into four types: Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and Type 4. Each type has a distinct mechanism...
Antiasthma Drugs: Mast Cell Stabilizers and Anti-IgE Drugs
Mast cell stabilizers, such as cromolyn (also known as sodium cromoglycate) and nedocromil (Tilade), are effective drugs in asthma management. These stabilizers hinder histamine release by skillfully obstructing the activation of mast cells and other cellular entities. Notably, they navigate this task without...

