Substance P and NK1 receptor expression in the enteric nervous system is related to the development of chagasic megacolon

• Published in: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Vol. 102; no. 11; pp. 1154 - 1156
• Main Authors: da Silveira, Alexandre B.M., Freitas, Michelle A.R., de Oliveira, Enio C., Neto, Salustiano G., Luquetti, Alejandro O., Furness, John B., Correa-Oliveira, Rodrigo, d’Avila Reis, Débora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008; Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Brazil; Chagas disease; Chagas Disease - etiology; Chagas Disease - metabolism; Enteric nervous system; Enteric Nervous System - metabolism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Megacolon; Megacolon - etiology; NK1 receptor; Other diseases. Semiology; Parasitic diseases; Protozoal diseases; Receptors, Neurokinin-1 - metabolism; Risk Factors; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Substance P; Substance P - metabolism; Trypanosomiasis; South America; Brazil; America; Chagas disease; Brazil; Enteric nervous system; NK1 receptor; Substance P; Megacolon; Protozoal disease; Nervous system; Parasitosis; Infection; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Tropical medicine; Trypanosomiasis
• ISSN: 0035-9203; 1878-3503
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.04.043

Chagasic megacolon is one of the most important forms of Chagas disease. This form is characterized by inflammation, neuronal destruction and organ dilatation. The aim of this study is to characterize the expression of substance P and its main receptor, NK1 receptor, in dilated and non-dilated samples of colon from chagasic patients with megacolon. Our results demonstrate that dilated portions of colon present high levels of substance P and low levels of NK1 receptor, whereas non-dilated portions and samples from non-infected individuals present low levels of substance P and high levels of NK1 receptor. We believe that this may indicate a neuro-immune relationship that occurs in Chagas disease.