NEUROPEPTIDE INNERVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE CELLS IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS AND CHRONIC HYPERTROPHIC RHINITIS

Background The neuropeptides and neuroendocrine cells are proven to ex ist in the human nasal mucosa. However, the pathophysiological and neu roimmunological roles of regulatory peptides in human nasal diseases r equire further investigation. Objectives To investigate and compare th e functional morphology and quantify the tissue concentration of regul atory peptides in the nasal mucosas of normal, allergic rhinitis (AR a nd chronic hypertrophic rhinitis (CHR) subjects. Methods Human inferio r turbinate mucosa specimens from 28 patients with AR, 25 patients wit h CHR and 15 patients without any nasal diseases were investigated, Us ing immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassays, we detected the presen ce, distribution and concentrations of various neuropeptides (vasoacti ve intestinal peptides [VIP], neuropeptide Y [NPY], substance P [SP], calcitonin gene-related peptides [CGRP]) and general neuroendocrine ma rkers (neuronee-specific enolase, chromogranin A and somatostatin). Qu antitative analysis of the stained fibres and cells were performed usi ng a graphic AutoCAD program. Results The presence and distribution of NPY, CGRP, and SP nerve fibres and neuroendocrine cells were similar among the three subject groups. AR subjects had significantly higher V IP and SP tissue concentrations. VIP fibres had highest density in AR subjects and those fibers predominantly innervated vessels. In CHR, VI P fibres primarily innervated glands. Conclusions VIP and SP may play an important neuroimmunological role in the pathogenesis of AR. VIP ma y lead to the hypertrophic changes of submucosal glands in the pathoge nesis of CHR.