Abstract
Leukotrienes (LTs) are potent biological proinflammatory mediators. LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 are more frequently involved in chronic inflammatory responses and exert their actions binding to a cysteinyl-LT 1 (CysLT1) receptor and a cysteinyl-LT 2 (CysLT2) receptor. LTs receptor antagonists available for clinical use demonstrate high-affinity binding to the CysLT1 receptor. In this paper the employment of anti-LTs in allergic cutaneous diseases is analyzed showing that several studies have recently reported a beneficial effects of these agents (montelukast and zafirlukast as well as zileuton) for the treatment of some allergic cutaneous related diseases-like chronic urticaria and atopic eczema although their proper application remains to be established.
Highlights
Several studies have recently reported a beneficial effects of leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists as well as zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, for the treatment of some allergic cutaneous related diseases-like chronic urticaria and atopic eczema [1, 2], their proper application remains to be established [2]
Leukotrienes (LTs) are a class of potent biological proinflammatory mediators derived from arachidonic acid through the 5-lipoxygenase pathway divided into two groups according to their chemical structure: those with a sulphur linkage or cysteinyl LTs: LTC4, LTD4, LTE4 are more frequently involved in chronic inflammatory responses and exert their actions through the binding to two types of activating receptors: a cysteinyl-LT 1 (CysLT1) receptor and a cysteinyl-LT 2 (CysLT2) receptor [4, 5]
The chronic urticaria shows different complex aspects in its pathogenesis: approximately 45% of patients with chronic urticaria have an IgG autoantibody directed to the alphasubunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor leading to cutaneous mast cell and basophil activation [17], but it has been recently evidenced that the coagulation cascade and fibrinolysis activation could be involved in the pathomechanism of chronic urticaria [18], whom contribute to form serum histamine releasing antibodies
Summary
Several studies have recently reported a beneficial effects of leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists (montelukast and zafirlukast) as well as zileuton, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, for the treatment of some allergic cutaneous related diseases-like chronic urticaria and atopic eczema [1, 2], their proper application remains to be established [2]. Cys-LTs play a role in promoting and maintaining the allergic inflammatory response in cutaneous disease as atopic dermatitis and chronic urticaria as well as in asthma through their active effects on chemotaxis, vasodilatation and oedema, LTs are, potent spasmogenic and chemotactic agents that increase capillary and small vessels permeability. Montelukast, Zafirlukast and Pranlukast [13] are LT receptor antagonists that demonstrate high-affinity binding to the CysLT1 receptor
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
