Published ahead of print on March 5, 2003, doi:10.1164/rccm.200212-1508OC
© 2003 American Thoracic Society
Neural Expression and Increased Lavage Fluid Levels of Secretoneurin in Seasonal Allergic RhinitisDepartments of Clinical Pharmacology and Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital, Department of Physiological Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Pharmacology, Innsbruck University, Innsbruck, Austria; and School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Dr. Magnus Korsgren, M.D., Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital, SE-221 85 Lund, Sweden. E-mail: magnus.korsgren{at}klinfarm.lu.se
Secretoneurin is a neuropeptide potentially involved in migration of eosinophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells. Whether secretoneurin is present in the human airway mucosa and whether it is released at ongoing allergic airway inflammation is currently unknown. In patients with allergic rhinitis, we have explored the occurrence of secretoneurin in nasal mucosal biopsies and lavage fluids before and during natural allergen exposure. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed an abundance of nerves displaying secretoneurin immunoreactivity, which were distributed predominantly around blood vessels and submucosal glands. A majority of nerve fibers containing vesicular acetylcholine transporter, tyrosine hydroxylase, calcitonin gene–related peptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide were also secretoneurin-immunoreactive, indicating a localization of secretoneurin in cholinergic, adrenergic, and sensory nerves. Lavage fluid levels of secretoneurin were increased at allergen exposure (p < 0.01–0.05). Levels of secretoneurin did not correlate with eosinophil cationic protein (
Key Words: allergic airway inflammation • neuropeptides • eosinophils This article has been cited by other articles:
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= 0.1, p = 0.7). We conclude that secretoneurin has a widespread occurrence in nasal mucosal nerves of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and that increased nasal lavage fluid levels of secretoneurin may characterize ongoing allergen exposure. These data favor a role of secretoneurin in the local traffic of immune cells in human airway mucosa. 
