title: Chlorine inhalation produces nasal airflow limitation in allergic rhinitic subjects without evidence of neuropeptide release.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Seasonal allergic rhinitic (SAR) subjects are more physiologically reactive to airborne irritants than non-rhinitic (NR) subjects; however the mechanism underlying this difference is unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine whether irritant-induced nasal airflow limitation involves neuropeptide release into nasal lining fluid, and if so, whether such release occurs differentially by rhinitic status.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight SAR and 8 NR subjects were exposed to 1.0 ppm chlorine and filtered air in random order during separate visits; exposures were via nasal mask and lasted 15 min. Rhinomanometry was performed before, immediately post-, and 15 min post-exposure. Following a minimum of 2 weeks' time, exposures and symptom reporting were repeated with nasal lavage pre- and post-exposure. Neuropeptides (substance P, cacitonin gene-related protein, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and neuropeptide Y) as well as markers of plasma leakage (albumin and urea) and glandular secretion (lysozyme and 7F10-mucin) were measured using standard methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cl(2) provocation significantly increased nasal airway resistance in SAR but not NR subjects (p<0.05). Neuropeptide levels in nasal lavage fluid, on the other hand, were unaffected, with the exception of a paradoxical increase in vasoactive intestinal peptide in non-rhinitic controls post-Cl(2) provocation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irritant-induced nasal airflow limitation is more pronounced among SAR than NR subjects. We could not, however, demonstrate a role for neuropeptide release in the nasal congestive response of SAR subjects.
authors.affiliation: Upper Airway Biology Laboratory, University of California, San Francisco, Box 0843, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. dennis3@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shusterman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balmes
authors.forename: Mary Alice
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Chih-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Baraniuk
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance; D015415:Biomarkers; D002713:Chlorine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007509:Irritants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D025363:Rhinomanometry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D007509:Irritants; D009479:Neuropeptides; D002713:Chlorine