Abstract
Human nasal mucosa biopsy samples were studied by biochemical and histological methods to determine whether the concentration of calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) as a marker of sensory nerves was dependent on the activity of neutral endopeptidase-like enzyme (NEP-LE). Mucosal samples from the middle turbinate were obtained from 32 patients undergoing functional endoscopic nasal surgery for non-allergic chronic rhinosinusitis. The degree of symptoms related to nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea and headaches was recorded. The number of inflammatory cells in each biopsy sample was evaluated by conventional histopathological examination. CGRP-LI was measured by radioimmunoassay. The activity of NEP-LE was evaluated in vitro using [3H] Leu5-enkephalin as substrate. A good correlation was observed between increased concentrations of CGRP, abundant inflammatory cells and the intensity of symptoms (R2 = 0.80). A low activity of NEP-LE was associated with a high concentration of both inflammatory cells and CGRP, suggesting that NEP-LE activity was reduced during inflammation. These observations further support the hypothesis that reduced degradation of sensory neuropeptides could be involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of non-specific chronic rhinosinusitis.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chatelain C, Pochon N, Lacroix JS (1995) Functional effects of phosphoramidon and captopril on exogenous neuropeptides in the human nasal mucosa. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 252:83–85
Dusser DJ, Jacoby DB, Djokic, Rubinstein I, Borson DB, Nadel JA (1989) Virus induces airway hyperresponsiveness to tachykinins: role of neutral endopeptidase. J Appl Physiol 67: 1504–1511
uler US von, Gaddum JH (1931) An unidentified depressor substance in certain tissue extract. J Physiol (Lond) 72:74–87
Johnson AR, Ashton J, Schultz WW, Erdös EG (1985). Neutral metalloendopeptidase in human lung tissue and cultured cells. Am Rev Respir Dis 132:564–568
Kenny AJ, Bowes MA, Gee NS, Matsas R (1985) Endopeptidase-24.11: a cell surface enzyme for metabolizing regulatory peptides. Biochem Soc Trans 13:293–295
Lacroix JS, Buvelot JM, Polla BS, Lundberg JM (1991) Improvement of symptoms of non-allergic chronic rhinitis by local treatment with capsaicin. Clin Exp Allergy 21:595–600
Llorens C, Schwartz JC (1981) Enkephalinase activity in rat peripheral organs. Eur J Pharmacol 69:113–116
etersson G, McCaffrey TV, Malm L (1989) Substance P and nasal secretion in dog, rat and man. Ann Allergy 62:410–414
Pierce J, Suelter CH (1977) An evaluation of the Coomassie brillant blue G-250 dye-binding method for quantitative protein determination. Anal Biochem 82:478–480
Sekizawa K, Tamaoki J, Graf PD, Basbaum CB, Borson DB, Nadel JA (1987) Enkephalinase inhibitor potentiates mammalian tachykinin-induced contraction in ferret trachea. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 243:1211–1217
Shore SA, Stimler-Gerard NP, Coats BR, Brazen JM (1987) Augmentation of Substance P-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig by neutral endopeptidase inhibitor (abstract). Am Rev Respir Dis 135:A93
Stead R, Bienenstock J, Stanisz A (1987) Neuropeptide regulation of mucosal immunity. Immunol Rev 10:333–359
Stjäme, P, Lundblad, L, AnggärdA, Hökfelt T, Lundberg JM (1989) Tachykinins and calcitonin-gene related peptide: co-existence in sensory nerves of the nasal mucosa and effects on blood flow. Cell Tissue Res 256:439–446
Stjäme P, Lacroix JS, Anggärd A, Lundberg JM (1991) Release of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the pig nasal mucosa ' y antidromic nerve stimulation and capsaicin. Regul Pept 33: 51–262
Uddman R, Malm L, Sundler F (1985) Occurrence and distribution of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the mammalian respiratory tract and in the middle ear. Cell Tissue Res 241:551–555
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lacroix, J.S., Kurt, A.M., Pochon, N. et al. Neutral endopeptidase activity and concentration of sensory neuropeptide in the human nasal mucosa. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 252, 465–468 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02114752
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02114752