Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1990) 94, 120–125; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12873982

Serotonin Metabolism in the Arthus Reaction

Takao Tachibana1, Shinkichi Taniguchi1, Fukumi Furukawa1, Soichi Miwa2 and Sadao Imamura1

  1. 1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
  2. 2Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan

Received 27 April 1988; Accepted 15 May 1989.

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Abstract

To better characterize the role of serotonin in the Arthus reaction, we examined the concentration of the amine and the activities of serotonin-metabolizing enzymes, monoamine oxidase (MAO) and serotonin-N-acetyltransferase (NAT), in reaction sites induced in guinea pig skin. The specific activity of total MAO in the intact skin was 108.0 plusminus 15.9 pmol/min/mg protein, and consisted of about 92% of type A activity and 8% of type B. The activity of total MAO was about 10 times greater than that of NAT. Total MAO activity increased to 130% – 150% of control levels at 2 h after initiation of the reaction and approximated the control level at 3 to 6 h. Subsequently, the activity decreased linearly to 50% at 12 h and to 20% at 24 h. Although the time-dependent changes of MAO type A activity were similar to those of total MAO activity, MAO type B activity increased to 42% at 30 min, remained at 30% – 40% until 6 h, and then decreased to 20% at 12 h and to 5% at 24 h. NAT activity in the reaction sites decreased with time to 50% of the control at 30 min and to 35% at 4 h and was stationary until 24 h. The serotonin concentration decreased linearly with time to 16% of the control level at 1 h, increased sharply to 240% at 6 h, and remained at more than 200% until 24 h. This biphasic change in serotonin concentration seems to be related to the dynamic changes in the activities of serotonin-degrading enzymes. In addition, the accumulation of platelets in the reaction sites may increase serotonin concentration and MAO activity subsequent to 1 h after the initiation.

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