[Study of the enzyme peptidyl peptidase IV in nasal mucosa].
BACKGROUND
The endothelial serine protease dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) cleaves the tyrosin-prolin dipeptide of several inflammatory mediators and neuropeptides, including neuropeptide Y (NPY), yielding the endogenous Y2-receptor agonist NPY (3-36) which modulates sensory and parasympathetic nerve activity. The aims of the study were to investigate the localisation of DPP IV in human nasal mucosa and to measure in vitro activity of DPP IV in nasal mucosa biopsies from patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
Using immunohistochemistry we have studied the localisation of DPP IV in human nasal biopsies. The activity of DPP IV was measured in vitro in nasal mucosa samples obtained from 45 patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis and compared with the density of inflammatory cell infiltration.


RESULTS
Positive immunoreactivity for DPP IV was observed in the human nasal mucosa. Low activity of DPP IV was associated with high density of inflammatory cells in the mucosa of patients suffering from chronic rhinosinusitis. The regressive correlation was statistically significant (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Low level DPP IV activity is associated with inflammation of the nasal mucosa. This enzyme may be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of nasal hyperreactivity and chronic rhinosinusitis.
Giger
R
R
Laboratoire de rhinologie expérimentale/Clinique et Policlinique d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et chirurgie cervico-faciale, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève.
Nicoucar
K
K
Kurt
A M
AM
Grouzman
E
E
Lacroix
J S
JS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014420:Turbinates / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D018819:Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4