title: Capsaicin induces the production of IL-6 in human upper respiratory epithelial cells.
abstract: Capsaicin, a type of alkaloid and the pungent component of chili peppers, is used as a therapeutic drug against allergic rhinitis and also as an index of bronchial hypersensitivity. Capsaicin receptor (TRPV1) expression has been identified in non-neuronal cells as well as neuronal cells. In our previous study, both TRPV1 protein and its gene expression on nasal epithelial cells were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. In order to clarify whether or not TRPV1 acts as a functional receptor, we examined the effects of capsaicin on the production of IL-6 from primary cultured human airway epithelial cells at both protein and mRNA levels. Human nasal epithelial cells (HNECs) and normal human bronchial/tracheal epithelial cells (NHBE cells) were stimulated with increasing concentrations of capsaicin and/or pretreatment with capsazepine (TRPV1 antagonist) at 37 degrees C. The supernatant and total RNA were collected at 0, 4, 12, 24 and 48 h after treatment. IL-6 concentration and the IL-6 mRNA level were evaluated by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively. Capsaicin (10 nM-10 muM) induced production of IL-6 from HNECs and NHBE cells and this effect was inhibited by pretreatment with capsazepine. Our findings suggest that topical application of capsaicin to the airway induces IL-6 production from respiratory epithelial cells via activation of TRPV1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, S1W16, Chuo-ku, Sapporo 060-8543, Japan. seki@sapmed.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shirasaki
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Himi
mesh_terms: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C494482:TRPV1 protein, human; C071423:capsazepine; D002211:Capsaicin