Mediators and nasal allergy

Given the redundancy of the various mediator systems involved in the generation of the signs and symptoms of allergic disease it has been hard to establish the specific role of each of these different mediator systems. This has also been true of the allergic manifestations of the upper airways. Various types of evidence have been provided of the active involvement of the different mediator systems. Such evidence includes: the demonstration of the local release of the mediator in conjunction with an appropriate stimulus; local challenges with the different putative mediators with a varied response pattern; and the administration, locally or systemically, of a specific antagonist, thereby providing pharmacological evidence of the active involvement of the different mediators.