CGRP and other mediators of neurogenic inflammation at the level of the nasal mucosa

Introduction: This article presents a review of the literature addressing t he role of different neuropeptides involved in neurogenic inflammation at t he level of the nasal mucosa. Discussion: Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a vasodilator peptide located in sensory C fibres. It plays an important role during neurogenic inflammation by controlling both tonicity and permeability of different vas cular beds. Its release can be produced by capsaicin, bradykinin (BK) or hi stamine. In turn, CGRP appears to play an important role in modulating hist amine-induced vascular responses. Different CGRP analogues are used to inve stigate the mechanisms of neurogenic inflammation. Some of them antagonise exogenous substances such as CGRP, capsaicin or bradykinin, attenuating the vasodilatation induced both in intensity and duration. They can contribute to the study of CGRP and its physiological involvement in neurogenic infla mmation. Moreover, they may have therapeutic applications in the treatment of patients with nasal hyperreactivity.