Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Volume 156, Number 6, December 1997, 1963-1968

Increased VIP-Positive Nerve Fibers in the Mucous Glands of Subjects with Chronic Bronchitis

ROSARIA E. LUCCHINI, FABRIZIO FACCHINI, GRAZIELLA TURATO, MARINA SAETTA, GAETANO CARAMORI, ADALBERTO CIACCIA, PIERO MAESTRELLI, DAVID R. SPRINGALL, JULIA M. POLAK, LEONARDO FABBRI, and CRISTINA E. MAPP

Institute of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, Padova; Institute of Infectious and Respiratory Diseases, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy; and Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London, United Kingdom

The presence and distribution of neuropeptide-containing nerves within bronchial surgical specimens has been investigated in bronchitic (n = 12) and in nonbronchitic subjects (n = 7). Lung tissue, obtained from patients undergoing thoracotomy for limited lung lesions, was processed immediately and analyzed for nerves using the streptavidin-biotin complex peroxidase method with antisera to the neural marker protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) and the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), substance P (SP), calcitonin-gene related peptide (CGRP). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the density of PGP 9.5-, SP-, or CGRP-positive nerves in both the locations assessed (smooth muscle layer and glands). The density of VIP-positive nerves was significantly higher in the glands of bronchitic than in nonbronchitic subjects. A negative relationship was found between the presence of airway inflammation, as indexed by mononuclear cell tissue infiltration, and the density of PGP 9.5-positive nerves in both smooth muscle and glands. Likewise, a relationship was found between the smoking history (packs/yr and age of onset of smoking) and the density of VIP-positive nerves in glands. These findings support a role for VIP in the hallmark of chronic bronchitis, i.e., sputum production.

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