vasoactive-intestinal-peptide and Rhinitis--Allergic--Perennial

To discuss current evidence of global climate change and its implications for allergic rhinitis and other allergic respiratory diseases.. Global climate change is evidenced by increasing average earth temperature, increasing anthropogenic greenhouse gas levels, and elevated pollen levels. Pollutants of interest include carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), and nitrous oxide (NO2) because they can enhance the allergic response and lead to increased symptoms of allergic respiratory diseases. Heightened CO2 levels stimulate pollen production via photosynthesis and increased growth in multiple plant species investigated. Although worsened air quality appears to increase prevalence of allergic rhinitis, the effects of increased temperature are less certain. The findings of increased aeroallergen levels likely contribute to increases in presentation of allergic diseases, although more healthcare impact studies are necessary.. Although recent literature indicates and strongly supports changes in temperature, pollution levels, and aeroallergen levels, more longitudinal epidemiologic surveillance of allergic diseases in relation to climate change as well as pathophysiologic studies on changing aeroallergen effects on allergic diseases are needed.

Topics: Air Pollutants; Climate Change; Humans; Inflammation Mediators; Nasal Mucosa; Nerve Fibers; Nerve Growth Factor; Neuropeptides; Population Surveillance; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Secretory Rate; Sensory Receptor Cells; Substance P; TRPV Cation Channels; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

In the last decade, several neuropeptides have been localized in sensory, sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons of the upper and lower airways in animals and man. Tachykinins are sensory neuropeptides: after nasal allergen challenge in patients with allergic rhinitis, substance P is locally released and induces nasal obstruction. Like neurokinin A, another tachykinin of sensory C fibers, substance P induces an increase in vascular permeability and a recruitment of inflammatory cells. Thus, tachykinins partially mimic nasal response to antigen. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is another sensory neuropeptide and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide localized to parasympathetic fibers. The distributions of CGRP and VIP fibers and of their binding sites, as well as their physiological effects described in other tissues, are consistent with a vasodilator effect. On the other hand, neuropeptide Y (NPY), a sympathetic neuropeptide, would seem to be a potent vasoconstrictor. Thus, nasal neuropeptides, and above all sensory neuropeptides, could play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Allergens; Animals; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Capillary Permeability; Humans; Mast Cells; Microcirculation; Nasal Mucosa; Neurokinin A; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Rats; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Tachykinins; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

To explore the underlying neuroimmunological mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR).. One hundred PAR outpatients were evenly randomized into EA group and medication group. Patients in EA group were treated with EA (5-10 mA, 80-100 Hz, and 30 min of stimulation) of Sphenopalatine ganglion area, Yingxiang (LI 20), Shangyingxiang (EX-HN 8), Yintang (EX-HN 3), supplemented with other acupoints according to syndrome-differentiation (once daily, 10 days being a therapeutic course). Patients of medication group were treated by Cetirizine (10 mg/times, t. i.d, peros). Before and after the treatment, blood samples of the ulnar vein were collected for detecting plasma vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and substance P (SP) contents with radioimmunoassay.. After the treatment, of the two 50 cases in EA and medication groups, 20 (40%) and 16 (32%) had an obvious improvement, 28 (56%) and 24 (48%) had an improvement, 2 (4%) and 10 (20%) failed, with the total effective rates being 96% and 80% separately. The therapeutic effect of EA group was significantly superior to that of medication group (P < 0.05). Self-comparison of each group showed that after the treatment, both plasma VIP and SP levels of two groups lowered apparently (P < 0.05, 0.01). Comparison between two groups showed that after the treatment, the content of VIP in EA group was markedly lower than that of medication group, while no significant difference was found between two groups in plasma SP levels (P > 0.05).. EA can effectively relieve perennial allergic rhinitis patients' clinical symptoms, which is closely related to its functions in lowering plasma VIP and SP levels.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Child; Child, Preschool; Electroacupuncture; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Anticholinergic drugs or vidian neurectomy can alleviate the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.. To show that inhibition of the cholinergic nerve influences the balance of T-helper type 1 and 2 cells in allergic rhinitis mice.. Twenty-four mice were randomly allocated to 1 of 4 groups: control, model, model with ipratropium bromide treatment, and model with 6-hydroxydopamine treatment. Allergic model-treated mice were sensitized with ovalbumin. Evaluation of allergic symptoms was recorded according to a symptom score. Ovalbumin serum IgE was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Expression of interleukin-4, interferon-γ, forkhead box P3, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptides was detected by immunohistochemistry and imaging analysis.. Symptoms in allergic mice were significantly alleviated by ipratropium bromide. Ovalbumin serum IgE and eosinophils of nasal mucosa were significantly decreased. Interleukin-4 expression level was significantly higher in the allergic model group than in the control group and significantly decreased by ipratropium bromide (P < .05). In contrast, the expression of forkhead box P3 was lower in the allergic model group than in the control group and increased with treatment by ipratropium bromide (P < .05). Conversely, interferon-γ expression was not changed by anticholinergic treatment in the nasal mucosa of allergic mice. Expression of substance P and vasoactive intestinal peptide was significantly increased in allergic mice and decreased by ipratropium bromide. Sympathetic denervation did not change the expression of interleukin-4, interferon-γ, forkhead box P3, substance P, and vasoactive intestinal peptide.. inhibition of the cholinergic nerve not only alleviated symptoms of allergic rhinitis by inhibiting the impulse of the parasympathetic nerve but also modulated the T-helper type 2-predominant immune reaction, expression of neuropeptides, and related inflammation factors.

Topics: Adrenergic Agents; Animals; Cholinergic Antagonists; Cholinergic Neurons; Disease Models, Animal; Eosinophils; Female; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Gene Expression; Immunoglobulin E; Interferon-gamma; Interleukin-4; Ipratropium; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Nasal Mucosa; Ovalbumin; Oxidopamine; Parasympathetic Nervous System; Rhinitis, Allergic; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Th1 Cells; Th1-Th2 Balance; Th2 Cells; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Recent guidelines reveal that allergic rhinitis impairs quality of life. Neuropeptides play a central role in allergy-related nasal inflammation. The objective of this study was to analyze the release of neuropeptides (substance P, neurokinin A, and vasoactive intestinal peptide) in nasal lavage and their modification by intranasal fluticasone propionate as an established therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.. Eleven patients with proven allergic rhinitis induced by house dust mite were challenged before and after administration of fluticasone propionate nasal spray. Nasal lavage samples were collected after allergen challenge, and neuropeptides were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Values for histamine, protein, and human serum albumin were also recorded. Eight healthy individuals were included as nonatopic controls.. The neuropeptides investigated were detectable in nasal lavage fluid in both patients and controls. Treatment with fluticasone propionate significantly decreased clinical response to allergen challenge (P < .01) compared with the controls and led to a decrease in values for substance P, neurokinin A, vasoactive intestinal peptide, histamine release, human serum albumin, and total protein after allergen challenge (P < .01).. The demonstration of proinflammatory neuropeptides in NAL and suppression of their release after allergen challenge caused by a topical corticosteroid suggest a role for neuropeptides in allergic inflammation. Diminished release of neuropeptides induced b fluticasone propionate was accompanied by an improvement in the clinical symptoms of patients with persistent allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Androstadienes; Anti-Allergic Agents; Antigens, Dermatophagoides; Female; Fluticasone; Histamine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nasal Lavage Fluid; Neurokinin A; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Serum Albumin; Statistics, Nonparametric; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; Young Adult

To investigate the expression of neuropeptides in the nasal septum of the perennial allergic rhinitis patients, and the mechanism of the alleviation effect of nasal septum rectification to allergic rhinitis.. Forty-five patients with deviation of nasal septum (20 with allergic rhinitis and 25 without), who undergone nasal septum rectification in Changhai hospital during Jun to Dec, 2007, were included in this research. The levels of SP, VIP, CGRP of the nasal septum were determined by radioimmunoassay.. In the normal controls, the SP, VIP and CGRP levels of the nasal septal cartilages were lower than that of the nasal septal bones (P<0.05), while in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients group, there were no statistical significance between the SP, VIP levels of the nasal septal cartilages and that of the nasal septal bones (P>0.05), and the CGRP level of the nasal septal cartilages was higher than that of the nasal septal bones (P<0.05). The SP, VIP levels of the nasal septal cartilages in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients group were higher than that in the normal controls (P<0.05), and there were no statistical significance between the levels of the nasal septal bones in the two groups (P>0.05). There were no statistical significance between the CGRP levels of the nasal septal cartilages in the two groups (P>0.05), neither did that of the nasal septal bones in the two groups (P>0.05).. The SP level of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that in the normal controls, which was more obvious in the nasal septal cartilages. The VIP level of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients was higher than that in the normal controls, which was more obvious in the nasal septal cartilages. There were no statistical significance between the CGRP levels of the nasal septum in the perennial allergic rhinitis patients and the normal controls.

Topics: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Septum; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Persistent perennial allergic rhinitis belongs to the most frequent diseases in occupational and environmental medicine. Because the innervation may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease, the present study analyzed nasal mucosal nerve profiles.. Neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers were examined using immunohistochemistry and related to eosinophil and mast cell numbers.. In contrast to constant numbers of mast cells, there was a significant increase in the number of eosinophils. Immunohistochemistry for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and neuropeptide tyrosine (NPY) revealed abundant staining of mucosal nerves. Semiquantitative assessment of nerve fiber neuropeptide density demonstrated a significant increase of VIP-positive fibers in rhinitis tissues.. The present data indicate a differential regulation of neuropeptide-containing nerve fibers with increased numbers of VIPergic fibers suggesting a modulatory role of the upper airway innervation in perennial allergic rhinitis.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Eosinophils; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Mast Cells; Middle Aged; Nasal Mucosa; Nerve Fibers; Neuronal Plasticity; Neuropeptide Y; Occupational Diseases; Reference Values; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

To study the effect of botulinum toxin-A on inhibiting rhinorrhea, on expression of VIP at nasal mucosa, on morphometrical change with an immunohistochemical and histological methods in rats allergic rhinitis.. Ovalbumin sensitized the rat as animal model of allergic rhinitis. Animals were divided into control group (n = 8), allergic group (n = 12), allergic animal treated by BTX-A group (n = 6). VIP immunoreactivity at nasal mucosa in the rat allergic rhinitis was studied by immunohistochemical. The morphometrical changes at nasal mucosa were observed by histological staining methods.. The results showed that the symptoms of allergic rhinitis, nasal rhinorrhea and sneezing, were remarkably relieved after ovalbumin application in the rat. The nasal rhinorrhea symptom diminished after BTX-A treated. The quantity of nasal secretion were significantly reduced(P < 0.05) in allergic one treated by BTX-A group as compared with allergic group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining demonstrated that no edema, small vessels were found in the nasal mucosa and after BTX-A treatment, but edema, vasodilational and inflammational cell infiltration were observed in the allergic group. Immunohistochemical study revealed that VIP immunoreactive fibers in the nasal mucosa showed a marked decrease after BTX-A application, but the density and a large number of VIP fibers were significantly found in the allergic group.. The results suggested that local BTX-A treatment was a selective and non-traumatic method to reduce a long lasting desensitization of the nasal mucosa, to alleviate nasal congestion, rhinorrhea and sneezing, and to reduce the sensory neuron sensitivity of the mucosa.

Topics: Animals; Botulinum Toxins, Type A; Female; Nasal Mucosa; Ovalbumin; Random Allocation; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The neuropeptides and neuroendocrine cells are proven to exist in the human nasal mucosa. However, the pathophysiological and neuroimmunological roles of regulatory peptides in human nasal diseases require further investigation.. To investigate and compare the functional morphology and quantify the tissue concentration of regulatory peptides in the nasal mucosas of normal, allergic rhinitis (AR) and chronic hypertrophic rhinitis (CHR) subjects.. Human inferior turbinate mucosa specimens from 28 patients with AR, 25 patients with CHR and 15 patients without any nasal diseases were investigated. Using immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassays, we detected the presence, distribution and concentrations of various neuropeptides (vasoactive intestinal peptides [VIP], neuropeptide Y [NPY], substance P [SP], calcitonin gene-related peptides [CGRP]) and general neuroendocrine markers (neurone-specific enolase, chromogranin A and somatostatin). Quantitative analysis of the stained fibres and cells were 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 VIP and SP tissue concentrations. VIP fibres had highest density in AR subjects and these fibers predominantly innervated vessels. In CHR, VIP fibres primarily innervated glands.. VIP and SP may play an important neuroimmunological role in the pathogenesis of AR. VIP may lead to the hypertrophic changes of submucosal glands in the pathogenesis of CHR.

Topics: Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Humans; Hypertrophy; Nasal Mucosa; Nerve Fibers; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Neurosecretory Systems; Radioimmunoassay; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Turbinates; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Neuroendocrine components exist in the human nasal mucosa. However, the pathophysiological and neuroimmunological roles of the regulatory peptides in allergic rhinitis (AR) require further investigation. To analyse the functional morphology and quantify the tissue concentration of regulatory peptides in the nasal mucosa of AR subjects, human inferior turbinate mucosa specimens from 25 patients with AR, 20 patients with non-allergic rhinitis and 10 patients without any nasal diseases were investigated. Using immunohistochemistry and radioimmunoassays, we detected the presence, distribution and concentrations of various neuropeptides [vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)] and general 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.

Topics: Biomarkers; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Immunohistochemistry; Nasal Mucosa; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Radioimmunoassay; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

An immunohistochemical study was made on the distribution of neuropeptides in 36 surgical specimens of the inferior nasal turbinate mucosa obtained from 32 patients with allergic rhinitis. Eleven patients (15 specimens) of the 32 underwent chemosurgery in which trichloracetic acid (TCA) was used before excision. In these patients a watery nasal discharge remained even after TCA application, although the nasal obstruction decreased. As a control, 6 specimens obtained from 6 patients with non-allergic rhinitis were also studied. In the present study, the distribution of Substance P (SP) was examined as an index of the parasympathetic nervous system. The distribution of nerve fibers showing a positive reaction specific to each of the two types of neuropeptides was examined in the frontal sections of the specimens at distances of 5 and 15 mm from the anterior tip of the inferior turbinate. In particular, the modes of the distribution in the superficial and deep layers of the mucosa were compared. It was found that, in the patients with allergic rhinitis who had not undergone TCA treatment, both SP-positive and VIP-positive fibers were abundant in the anterior portion of the turbinate immediately beneath the basement membrane. In those patients who underwent chemosurgery prior to excision, SP-positive fibers were very scarce in both superficial and deep layers, whereas VIP-positive fibers appeared to exist only in the deep layer around the remaining nasal glands. In the specimens obtained from patients with non-allergic rhinitis, there was no appreciable difference in the pattern of distribution of SP-and VIP-positive fibers among different sites of the specimens. The present study would indicate that chemosurgery using TCA inhibited the appearance of neuropeptides and resulted in improvement in clinical symptoms. However, in those patients having a continuous watery discharge even after TCA treatment, the function of the remaining nasal glands might be responsible for the symptom, although the contribution of VIP to the increase in vasopermeability should also be taken into consideration. Further studies are needed to determine the distribution of neuropeptides around the vessel walls.

Topics: Female; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Male; Nasal Mucosa; Neuropeptides; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Trichloroacetic Acid; Turbinates; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

In order to study morphological effects on the nasal and sinus mucosa, New Zealand White rabbits underwent either unselective, regional sectioning of sensory and parasympathetic nerve branches or topical treatment of the mucosa with capsaicin. Ten days after treatment, mucosal specimens were analyzed by light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate neuropeptides present, in particular substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide and neuropeptide Y. In surgically denervated rabbits, mucosal glands were found to be enlarged and contained an increased number of zymogen granules having a bipartite substructure. Topical capsaicin application caused localized epithelial changes in the sinus mucosa and maxilloturbinal region of the nose, including clotting of cilia and an increased number of goblet cells. Reduced amounts of all neuropeptides investigated were found in the surgically denervated animals, while topical capsaicin treatment had only marginal effects on the mucosal neuropeptide content. The morphological changes observed after surgical denervation suggest an imbalance between neural stimulation and secretory capacity of the mucosal glands. These findings could explain the difference in clinical effect noted between sectioning of the vidian nerve and topical treatment with capsaicin in patients with perennial rhinitis.

Topics: Administration, Topical; Animals; Autonomic Nervous System; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; Capsaicin; Cytoplasmic Granules; Denervation; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Microscopy, Electron; Nasal Mucosa; Neuropeptide Y; Neuropeptides; Paranasal Sinuses; Rabbits; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Substance P; Trigeminal Nerve; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Before terfenadine treatment, the mean substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) concentrations in nasal secretions from nasal allergy patients tended to be higher than the values of healthy subjects. During terfenadine treatment, the mean substance P concentrations in nasal secretions from patients allergic to house dust or pollen were significantly decreased to 62 and 39% of the initial values, respectively. The mean VIP concentrations in nasal secretions from the house dust allergy patients and the pollen allergy patients were significantly decreased to 52 and 18% of the initial values, respectively. Plasma substance P and VIP concentrations were not affected by nasal allergic symptom and terfenadine treatment.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Nasal Mucosa; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Substance P; Terfenadine; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

To clarify the role of substance P (SP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in nasal allergy, we measured their concentrations in the nasal secretions and plasma of normal subjects and patients with nasal allergy to house dust and Japanese cedar pollen by competitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. The mean levels of SP (224 pmol/L) and VIP (41.6 pmol/L) in the nasal secretions of normal subjects were significantly higher than those in plasma (SP 3.04 pmol/L and VIP 1.04 pmol/L; p < .01). The mean levels of SP and VIP in the nasal secretions of the pollinosis group were significantly higher than those of the control group (p < .05 and p < .01), while the levels of the house dust allergy group were not higher than those of the control group. Intranasal allergen challenge significantly reduced SP levels in the nasal secretions of the allergy groups, while it did not influence VIP levels in the nasal secretions. These findings suggest that SP and VIP are actively secreted into the nose and may play an important role in the allergic reaction on the surface of the human nasal mucosa.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Child; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Humans; Middle Aged; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Provocation Tests; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal; Substance P; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) were measured in 33 allergic rhinitis patients and 21 controls by means of supersensitive and highly specific VIP-radioimmunoassays. At the same time the blood flow was observed by using the laser-Doppler flowmetry. The result showed that the levels of plasma VIP in patients with allergic rhinitis were higher than those in the control group (54.93 +/- 30.58 ng/L, 25.97 +/- 11.83 ng/L, P < 0.01). The levels of plasma VIP related significantly to the volume of blood flow in nasal mucosa (gamma = 0.7678, P < 0.001). It is concluded that VIP could induce vasodilation in nasal mucosa, leading to an increase in nasal mucosa blood flow.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Humans; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; Middle Aged; Nasal Mucosa; Radioimmunoassay; Regional Blood Flow; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide