title: Aspirin-sensitive rhinitis-associated changes in upper airway innervation.
abstract: Aspirin-sensitive rhinitis is the manifestation of aspirin intolerance in the upper respiratory tract. The disease represents a pseudoallergy against aspirin or related nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. As a major immunomodulatory role for airway innervation has been proposed in airway inflammatory diseases, the present study assessed changes in human nasal mucosa innervation in patients with aspirin-sensitive rhinitis in comparison to a control group. Immunohistochemistry for protein gene product 9.5, tachykinins, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide tyrosine was performed on cryostats sections of nasal mucosa and neuropeptide containing nerves were examined independently using a score grading. In comparison to the control, the aspirin-sensitive rhinitis group had a significant increase of VIP-like immunoreactivity in mucosal nerve fibres. In contrast to constant numbers of mast cells, highly significant increases in the numbers of eosinophils were found in the group of aspirin-sensitive rhinitis patients. In summary, the present quantification of neuropeptide-immunoreactivity of mucosal nerves demonstrated differences in the human nasal mucosa innervation between nonrhinitic and aspirin-sensitive rhinitic individuals. These differences may reflect a pathophysiological role of upper airway innervation in pseudoallergic reactions.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Otorhinolaryngology, Karlsruhe Teaching Hospital, University of Freiburg, Karlsruhe, Germany.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Groneberg
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Heppt
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Welker
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peiser
authors.forename: Q Thai
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Dinh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cryer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zweng
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009479:Neuropeptides; D001241:Aspirin