Sensory neuropeptides induce histamine release from bronchoalveolar lavage cells in both nonasthmatic coughers and cough variant asthmatics

• Published in: Clinical and experimental allergy Vol. 30; no. 2; pp. 225 - 232
• Main Authors: FORSYTHE, P, MCGARVEY, L. P. A, HEANEY, L. G, MACMAHON, J, ENNIS, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford BSL Blackwell Science Ltd 01.02.2000; Blackwell; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; airway inflammation; Asthma - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; bronchoalveolar lavage; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - cytology; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid - immunology; Calcimycin - metabolism; calcitonin gene-related peptide; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide - pharmacology; chronic non-productive cough; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cough - immunology; Cough - physiopathology; Female; histamine; Histamine Release - drug effects; Humans; Male; mast cells; Mast Cells - drug effects; Mast Cells - immunology; Mast Cells - metabolism; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; neurokinin A; neuropeptides; Neuropeptides - pharmacology; Pneumology; sensory neuropeptides; substance P; Substance P - metabolism; Human; Respiratory disease; Pathogenesis; Peptide hormone; Inflammation; Calcitonine gene related peptide; Neuropeptide; Cough; Asthma; Respiratory tract; Bronchoalveolar lavage; Sensory nerve; Mast cell; Obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0954-7894; 1365-2222
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2222.2000.00770.x

Background Sensory neuropeptides have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of a number of respiratory diseases including asthma and chronic non‐productive cough. Objectives To investigate the action of sensory neuropeptides on airway mast cells obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Methods BAL was performed on 23 nonasthmatic patients with cough (NAC), 11 patients with cough variant asthma (CVA) and 10 nonatopic controls. Washed lavage cells were stimulated (20 min, 37 °C) with calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP), neurokinin A (NKA) and substance P (25 and 50 μmol/L). Results The neuropeptides tested induced histamine release in all groups studied. Only CGRP (50 μmol/L) induced significantly more histamine release from both NAC and CVA patients compared with control subjects (P = 0.038 and 0.045, respectively). Conclusion Regardless of aetiology, mast cells from patients with chronic cough appear to have an increased responsiveness to CGRP compared with controls. The results of the present study suggest that the role of CGRP in chronic cough should be further investigated.