Sustained Inhibition of Antigen‐Induced Histamine Release from Human Lung by the β2‐Adrenoceptor Agonist Terbutaline

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Abstract
Antigen-induced histamine release from passively sensitized human lung tissue was inhibited in the presence of the β2-adrenoceptor agonist, terbutaline. A sustained and statistically significant suppression was detected in the concentration interval 3 × 10−8-1 × 10−6 M. Fifty per cent inhibition IC50, was obtained at an interpolated concentration of 5.3 × 10−8± 0.4 × 10−8 M (n= 13), when the histamine secretion was elicited with optimum concentration of antigen. Histamine release induced with a suboptimum concentration of antigen was inhibited to a greater extent than release initiated with optimum concentration. The data in the present investigation support the concept that terbutaline-induced inhibition of mediator release from human lung tissue can contribute to the clinical effectiveness of the drug during treatment of allergic asthma.