muramidase and Rhinitis

We have previously proposed that, compared with rhinitis alone, the constellation of upper and lower airway allergic disease is a manifestation of a more severe form of a syndrome affecting the entire airway. If this is correct, not only the lower, but also the upper airways of patients with asthma and rhinitis should demonstrate more abnormalities compared with patients with rhinitis alone, including higher sensitivity to irritant factors. Objective To test the hypothesis that, a previously well-studied natural nasal stimulus, cold, dry air (CDA), produces a stronger response in subjects with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma compared with subjects with AR alone.. We performed nasal provocation with CDA on 24 individuals with asthma and rhinitis and 17 with rhinitis alone. Prior to and after the challenge, nasal symptoms were recorded using visual analogue scales and nasal lavages were performed to determine histamine and lysozyme levels.. The two groups reacted differently to CDA: after the challenge, patients with rhinitis and asthma reported significantly higher scores for nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and lacrimation. Also in this group, significant increases in histamine and in lysozyme levels in nasal lavage fluids were induced by CDA. In subjects with rhinitis alone, CDA failed to increase histamine or lysozyme levels above baseline. The CDA-induced change from baseline in histamine was significantly higher in the patients with rhinitis and asthma, compared with the rhinitis-only group.. Patients with AR and asthma have stronger nasal responsiveness to CDA compared with patients with rhinitis alone. This observation is consistent with the notion that compared with rhinitis alone, the presence of asthma and rhinitis signifies a higher degree of functional abnormality of the entire airway.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Analysis of Variance; Asthma; Cold Temperature; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Histamine; Humans; Humidity; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Provocation Tests; Rhinitis; Statistics, Nonparametric

Nerve involvement has been implicated in the pathophysiology of chronic respiratory inflammatory diseases. Peptidergic nerve stimulation has been shown to induce leukocyte activation and plasma extravasation in the airways of various animal species. The occurrence of this phenomenon of neurogenic inflammation in the human airway, however, has not been established.. We conducted this study to determine whether neuronal stimulation can induce reproducible and dose-dependent inflammatory changes in the human upper airway.. Ten volunteers with active allergic rhinitis participated in the study. Capsaicin, the pungent component of hot pepper that specifically stimulates afferent nerve fibers, was administered by means of nasal spray in doses of 1 microg, 10 microg, and 100 microg in a double-blind, randomized, crossover manner with 1 week between doses. Symptom scores before and after capsaicin nasal challenge were recorded by using visual analog scales. Nasal lavage fluids collected before and at 30 minutes, 1 hour, and 4 hours after capsaicin challenge were analyzed for leukocyte counts; albumin and lysozyme levels were measured to evaluate effects on plasma leakage and gland secretion, respectively.. Capsaicin nasal challenge produced symptoms of burning, congestion, and rhinorrhea. Leukocyte counts or albumin and lysozyme levels were not significantly increased after administration of 1 microg of capsaicin at any time point. On the other hand, there were significant increases in leukocyte counts 1 hour (p < 0.05) and 4 hours (p = 0.008) after 10 microg of capsaicin and 30 minutes (p = 0.009), 1 hour (p = 0.007), and 4 hours (p = 0.007) after 100 microg of capsaicin. Albumin and lysozyme levels were both significantly increased 30 minutes after 10 microg and 100 microg of capsaicin (p = 0.005 for both). Comparison of changes in symptom scores, leukocyte counts, and albumin and lysozyme levels among the three capsaicin challenges indicated generally increasing effects with higher capsaicin doses.. Capsaicin-sensitive nerve stimulation in subjects with active allergic rhinitis produces reproducible and dose-dependent leukocyte influx, albumin leakage, and glandular secretion. These results provide in vivo evidence for the occurrence of neurogenic inflammation in the human upper airway with active allergic disease.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Albumins; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Capsaicin; Cross-Over Studies; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Provocation Tests; Neuritis; Respiratory System; Rhinitis

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Clinical Trials as Topic; Drug Combinations; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Humans; Imidazoles; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Naphazoline; Naphthalenes; Nasal Decongestants; Placebos; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal

Previous research has shown diminished nasal immune function following nasal saline irrigation (NSI), returning to baseline at 6 hours. The aim of this study was to examine the immune nasal proteome before and after 14 days of nasal irrigation.. Seventeen healthy volunteers received either isotonic (IsoSal) or low salt (LowNa) NSI. Nasal secretions were collected before and 30 min after NSI at baseline and again after 14 days. Specimens were analyzed using mass spectrometry to detect proteins of relevance to nasal immune function.. One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five proteins were identified with significant changes in 71 proteins, of which 23 were identified as part of the innate immune system. Baseline analysis demonstrated an increase of 9 innate proteins after NSI, most after IsoSal. After 14 days, a greater increase in innate peptides was present, with most now in the LowNa group. When NSI solutions were compared, a significant increase in 4 innate proteins, including a 211% in lysozyme, was detected in the LowNa group.. LowNa NSI demonstrates evidence of improving the innate immune secretions, especially lysozyme, in healthy volunteers.

Topics: Humans; Immunity, Innate; Muramidase; Nasal Lavage; Pilot Projects; Proteome; Rhinitis; Saline Solution; Sinusitis; Therapeutic Irrigation

Lysozyme, secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) and glycoprotein 340 (gp340) are important effectors of the innate immune system in sinonasal mucosa. Bacterial biofilms (BBF) are highly organized bacterial communities resistant to host defense systems. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of lysozyme, SLPI and gp340 in sinus mucosa from chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients with different BBF status. In this prospective cohort study, 63 CRS patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and 20 controls were enrolled and their mucosal samples from ethmoid sinus were obtained. Biofilms were examined by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), and the expressions of lysozyme, SLPI and gp340 in mRNA and protein levels were detected using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western blot assay, respectively. As a result, 35/63 (55.6%) of the patients were BBF positive in the CRS group and none in controls. Both mRNA and protein levels of lysozyme, SLPI and gp340 in patients with CRS were significantly higher than those in controls. When sub-classified according to BBF status, the CRS patients with BBF revealed the significantly enhanced mRNA and protein levels of lysozyme, SLPI and gp340. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that lysozyme, SLPI and gp340 are constitutively expressed in sinus mucosa and their up-regulated expressions on both the mRNA and protein levels are associated with BBF in CRS patients. These findings may offer an insight into the interaction between BBF and the innate immune system.

Topics: Adult; Biofilms; Case-Control Studies; Chronic Disease; Ethmoid Sinus; Female; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Immunity, Innate; Male; Microscopy, Confocal; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Receptors, Immunologic; Respiratory Mucosa; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rhinitis; RNA, Messenger; Secretory Leukocyte Peptidase Inhibitor; Sinusitis; Young Adult

The presence of fungi and bacteria in the paranasal sinuses may contribute to ongoing inflammation. Lysozyme is an innate immune peptide with bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The expression of lysozyme in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is poorly understood and deficiencies in lysozyme expression may contribute to the ongoing inflammation in CRS patients.. Determine lysozyme expression in sinus mucosa of normal and CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps.. Sinus mucosa specimens (n = 82) were processed for standard histology, immunohistochemical localisation of lysozyme, immunofluorescent localisation of fungi, and qPCR analysis of lysozyme expression.. CRS specimens displayed high-levels of lysozyme immunoreactivity in many of the abundant serous cells. Moderate levels were detected in some epithelial cells and inflammatory cells. Low levels were detected in some subepithelial glands of control specimens. No difference in immunoreactivity was detected between CRSwNP and CRSsNP specimens. Fungal elements were not visualised in any sinus specimen. qPCR analysis demonstrated variable lysozyme expression between individuals.. Lysozyme protein expression is increased in patients with CRS, suggesting a defect in lysozyme expression is not responsible for the microbial colonisation often associated with CRS. The functional activity of lysozyme in CRS patients needs to be further investigated.

Topics: Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Chronic Disease; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Mucous Membrane; Muramidase; Paranasal Sinuses; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Rhinitis; Sinusitis

Pathophysiologic differences in neural responses to hypertonic saline (HTS) were investigated in subjects with acute sinusitis (n = 25), subjects with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) with nonallergic rhinitis (n = 14), subjects with active allergic rhinitis (AR; n = 17), and normal (n = 20) subjects. Increasing strengths of HTS were sprayed into their nostrils at 5-minute intervals. Sensations of nasal pain, blockage, and drip increased with concentration and were significantly elevated above normal. These parallels suggested activation of similar subsets of afferent neurons. Urea and lysozyme secretion were dose dependent in all groups, suggesting that serous cell exocytosis was one source of urea after neural stimulation. Only AR and normal groups had mucin dose responses and correlations between symptoms and lysozyme secretion (R(2) = 0.12-0.23). The lysozyme dose responses may represent axon responses in these groups. The neurogenic stimulus did not alter albumin (vascular) exudation in any group. Albumin and mucin concentrations were correlated in sinusitis, suggesting that nonneurogenic factors predominated in sinusitis mucous hypersecretion. CFS had neural hypersensitivity (pain) but reduced serous cell secretion. HTS nasal provocations identified significant, unique patterns of neural and mucosal dysregulation in each rhinosinusitis syndrome.

Topics: Acute Disease; Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Albumins; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Mucins; Mucus; Muramidase; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Provocation Tests; Neurons, Afferent; Pain; Rhinitis; Saline Solution, Hypertonic; Sinusitis; Urea

Topics: Adult; alpha-Amylases; Asthma; Conjunctivitis, Allergic; Flour; Forced Expiratory Volume; Humans; Immunization; Male; Muramidase; Occupational Diseases; Rhinitis; Vital Capacity

In rhinologic disorders such as polyposis or rhinitis, nasal cytology allows differentiation between patients according to the degree of eosinophilia in nasal secretions. The egress of eosinophil and/or neutrophil polymorphonuclears from the underlying mucosa might correlate with the release of soluble mediators of cell activation such as the chemokine IL-8, and such molecules of the innate immunity as the LPS-receptor CD14 or lysozyme. We assayed the levels of these three molecules in nasal secretions in correlation with cytologic findings and especially the degree of eosinophilia.. Fifty-four patients from a prospective study of nasal secretions were enrolled in this work. They constituted two groups of 27 patients each, respectively, with or without more than 20% eosinophils in nasal secretions. Nasal secretions were collected by aspiration, weighed and diluted in a fixed amount of buffer. Classic cytologic analyses were performed on the pelleted cells and IL-8, sCD14, and lysozyme levels were assayed in the cell-free supernatants.. Cytologic analyses included cell-enumeration in Neubauer's chambers, and differentials performed on May-Grünwald Giemsa-stained cytospins. ELISA tests were used to assay the levels of IL-8 and sCD14. Lysozyme concentrations were assayed in immuno-nephelometry.. Significantly lower levels of IL-8 and sCD14 were observed in patients with eosinophilia than in patients with a predominance of neutrophils, whereas no difference was observed in lysozyme concentrations.. These data show that the egress of neutrophils in nasal secretions is associated with high levels of IL-8 and sCD14.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Eosinophilia; Female; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Interleukin-8; Leukocyte Count; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Polyps; Neutrophils; Reference Values; Rhinitis; Sinusitis

There is little information about specific changes in submucosal gland exocytosis in diseases such as allergic rhinitis (AR), nonallergic rhinitis (NAR), and cystic fibrosis (CF). Nasal lavage fluids were collected from normal, AR, NAR, and CF subjects. Concentrations of lysozyme, Alcian blue-staining mucoglycoconjugate material (AB + m), and human high-molecular-weight mucoglycoconjugates recognized by the 7F10 murine monoclonal antibody [7F10-immunoreactive mucoglycoconjugates (7F10-irm)] were measured. AB + m and 7F10-irm were characterized by Sepharose-2B column chromatography and glycosidase digestion. 7F10-irm was increased in CF (2.4-fold; P = 0.001) and AR (12.7-fold; P = 0.00007) subjects. AB + m was increased in CF (1.8-fold; P = 0.049) and AR (1.2-fold; P = 0.07) subjects. There were no changes in NAR subjects. On Sepharose-2B columns, AB + m peaks were at 1.3-3.0 x 10(6) and 0.36-0.65 x 10(6) Da. 7F10-irm showed four distinct peaks at 1.5, 1.2, 0.85, and 0.53 x 10(6) Da that were nearly identical in both normal and CF samples. Sialic acid was present in both 7F10-irm and AB + m. 7F10-irm and AB + m are mutually exclusive sialylated mucoglycoproteins that are significantly induced in AR and CF but not in NAR.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Cattle; Chromatography, Ion Exchange; Cystic Fibrosis; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Fibromyalgia; Glycoconjugates; Glycoside Hydrolases; Humans; Mucins; Mucoproteins; Muramidase; Nasal Mucosa; Neuraminidase; Rhinitis; Sinusitis; Submandibular Gland; Therapeutic Irrigation

The antimicrobial proteins lactoferrin (Lf) and lysozyme (Ly) are invariably found in nasal secretions. To investigate the cellular sources and the secretory control of these nasal proteins in vivo, 34 adult subjects underwent nasal provocation tests with methacholine (MC), histamine (H), and gustatory stimuli. Nasal lavages were collected and analyzed for total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), Lf, and Ly. MC (25 mg), H (1 mg), and gustatory stimuli (spicy foods) all increased the concentrations of TP, Alb, Lf, and Ly. However, when each protein was assessed as a percentage of TP (i.e., Alb% = Alb/TP; Lf% = Lf/TP; Ly% = Ly/TP), MC and gustatory stimuli, which both induce glandular secretion, selectively augmented Lf% and Ly% without changing Alb%, while H, which primarily increases vascular permeability, increased Alb% without significantly affecting Lf% or Ly%. Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analysis of nasal secretions demonstrated both Lf and Ly in cholinergically induced secretions. Furthermore, histochemical analyses of nasal turbinate tissue revealed Lf and Ly colocalization within the serous cells of submucosal glands, providing evidence that both proteins are strictly glandular products within the nasal mucosa. Therefore, both Lf and Ly are produced and secreted from the glands, and their secretion may be pharmacologically regulated in attempts to improve host defenses.

Topics: Adult; Albumins; Blotting, Western; Condiments; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Female; Histamine; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Male; Methacholine Chloride; Methacholine Compounds; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Provocation Tests; Proteins; Rhinitis; Taste; Therapeutic Irrigation

Topics: Acute Disease; Age Factors; Drug Combinations; Drug Evaluation; Ethylenediamines; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Methylamines; Muramidase; Rhinitis

Topics: Animals; Chlorides; Chronic Disease; Humans; Injections, Intramuscular; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Muramidase; Nasal Mucosa; Rabbits; Rhinitis

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Chronic Disease; Common Cold; Humans; Muramidase; Nasal Mucosa; Papain; Rhinitis

Topics: Common Cold; Humans; Mucus; Muramidase; Papain; Rhinitis; Viscosity

Topics: Bronchitis; Chloramphenicol; Humans; Infant; Influenza, Human; Muramidase; Orthomyxoviridae; Orthomyxoviridae Infections; Rhinitis; Streptomycin; Tracheitis

Topics: Anti-Allergic Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Capillaries; Dermatologic Agents; Histamine H1 Antagonists; Humans; Muramidase; Rhinitis

Topics: Atrophy; Dermatologic Agents; Humans; Lacrimal Apparatus; Muramidase; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Atrophic; Skin Diseases; Tears

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antibiotics, Antitubercular; Atrophy; Dermatologic Agents; Glycoside Hydrolases; Humans; Muramidase; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Atrophic