Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in plasma substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) levels in children with acute asthma before and after gamma-aminobutyricacid (GABA) treatment. METHODS: Seventy-five children with asthma were randomly assigned to GABA treatment (n=36) and control groups (n=39). Both groups were given conventional treatment for asthma. Besides the conventional treatment, the treatment group was administered with oral GABA (25-30 mg/kg?d). Plasma content of SP and CGRP was measured using ELISA before treatment and after remission. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in plasma content of SP and CGRP between the GABA treatment and control groups (P>0.05) before treatment. Plasma content of SP and CGRP in the GABA treatment group was significantly lower than the control group (SP: 57±15 pg/mL vs 127±12 pg/mL; CGRP: 23±10 pg/mL vs 42±8 pg/mL) after remission (P<0.01). Plasma content of SP and CGRP after remission was significantly lower than before treatment (P<0.01) in both groups. There was a significantly positive correlation between plasma SP and CGRP content in asthmatic children (r=0.792, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: GABA can significantly decrease plasma levels of SP and CGRP in children suffering from acute asthma.
XU Chuan-Wei,GUO Shan-Chun,ZHENG Zhen-Wen et al. Effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid treatment on plasma substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide levels in children with asthma[J]. CJCP, 2013, 15(2): 102-104.
[7]Xiang YY, Wang S, Liu M, Hirota JA, Li J, Ju W, et al. A GABAergic system in airway epithelium is essential for mucus overproduction in asthma[J]. Nat Med, 2007, 13(7): 862-867.
[8]Mizuta K, Xu D, Pan Y, Comas G, Sonett JR, Zhang Y, et al. GABAA receptors are expressed and facilitate relaxation in airway smooth muscle[J]. Am J Physion Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2008, 294(6): L1206-L1216,
[9]Reyes-García MG, Hernández-Hernández F, Hernández-Téllez B, García-Tamayo F. GABA (A) receptor subunits RNA expression in mice peritoneal macrophages modulate their IL-6/IL-12 production[J]. J Neuroimmunol, 2007, 188(1): 64-68.
[10]Lu WY. The potential use of GABAergic drugs in the treatment of asthma[J]. Future Med Chem, 2011, 3(2): 145-147.
[12]Ray NJ, Jones AJ, Keen P. GABAB receptors modulation of the release of substance P from capsaicin-sensitive neurones in the rat rachea in vitro[J]. Br J Pharmacol, 1991, 102(4): 801-804.
[13]Mizuta K, Osawa Y, Mizuta F, Xu D, Emala CW. Functional Expression of GABAB Receptors in Airway Epithelium[J]. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol, 2008, 39(3): 296-304.
[14]Osawa Y, Xu D, Sternberg D, Sonett JR, D′Armiento J, Panettieri RA, et al. Functional expression of the GABAB receptor in human airway smooth muscle[J]. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 2006, 291(5): L923-L931.