DISTRIBUTION AND QUANTITY OF NEUROENDOCRINE MARKERS IN ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Neuroendocrine components exist in the human nasal mucosa. However, th e pathophysiological and neuroimmunological roles of the regulatory pe ptides in allergic rhinitis (AR) require further investigation. To ana lyse the functional morphology and quantify the tissue concentration o f regulatory peptides in the nasal mucosa of AR subjects, human inferi or turbinate mucosa specimens from 25 patients with AR, 20 patients wi th non-allergic rhinitis and 10 patients without any nasal diseases we re investigated. Using immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassays, we detected the presence, distribution and concentrations of various neur opeptides [vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)] and gener al neuroendocrine markers (neuron-specific enolase and chromogranin A) . Quantitative analysis of the stained fibres and cells was performed using a graphic AutoCAD program. 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 tissue concentrations of VIP and SP. AR subjects had increased numbers of VIP fibres which predominantly innervated vessels. Thus, VIP and SP play important neuroimmunological roles in the pathogenesis of AR.