Neuropeptide content of lungs from asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients.
Tracheal and lung parenchymal SP-LI (substance P-like immunoreactivity) and VIP-LI (vasoactive intestinal peptide-like immunoreactivity) content was measured in HPLC-purified tissue extracts from patients with and without asthma. We detected significantly less SP-LI in tracheal tissue from asthmatic than from nonasthmatic patients, whereas parenchymal SP-LI content was not significantly different between these groups. This finding does not support the concept that asthmatic lungs contain excessive amounts of SP. Indeed, lower SP-LI content of tracheal tissues from asthmatic patients may reflect augmented SP release followed by degradation. We detected greater quantities of VIP-LI in tracheal than in parenchymal tissue in both groups, but did not detect significant differences in VIP-LI content in tracheal or parenchymal tissues from asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients. These findings indicate that asthmatic and nonasthmatic lungs contain similar levels of VIP.
Lilly
C M
CM
Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115.
Bai
T R
TR
Shore
S A
SA
Hall
A E
AE
Drazen
J M
JM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide