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. 2021 May 9;14(5):100540.
doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2021.100540. eCollection 2021 May.

Naso-ocular neuropeptide interactions in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis

Yifan Meng  1 , Hongshuang Lu  2 , Chengshuo Wang  1 , Yang Wang  3 , Na Meng  3 , Ke Yang  2 , Ying Jie  2 , Luo Zhang  1   3   4
Affiliations

Naso-ocular neuropeptide interactions in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis

Yifan Meng et al. World Allergy Organ J. .

Abstract

Background: Ocular as well as nasal symptoms contribute to allergic response but remain poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to analyze the levels of substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in tears and nasal secretions of patients with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC), allergic rhinitis, and allergic conjunctivitis, while exploring possible mechanisms of naso-ocular interactions.

Methods: A total of 21 patients with ARC, 17 with allergic rhinitis, 13 with allergic conjunctivitis, and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Nasal secretions and tears were collected. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics were recorded and levels of substance P, VIP, and CGRP were measured.

Results: SP levels in nasal secretions and tears were significantly higher in the ARC, AR, and AC groups. Similar results were obtained for VIP levels. CGRP levels in tears were also significantly higher in the 3 patient groups. The level of SP was significantly higher in the nasal secretions than in the tears of the ARC, AR, and AC patient groups. The level of VIP was significantly higher in the nasal secretions than in the tears in the ARC and AR groups. The level of CGRP was significantly higher in the nasal secretions than in the tears in the ARC and AC groups. Finally, both of the nasal and tear levels of SP and VIP but not CGRP were positively correlated with the visual analog scale (VAS) score in the patients with ARC.

Conclusion: The results of this study suggested that SP, VIP, and CGRP play important roles in the mechanism of ARC and that nasal neurotransmitters and neuropeptides might have more important roles than those of ocular origin.

Keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis; Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Substance P; Vasoactive intestinal peptide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of allergen types of the patients
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Levels of SP (A, B), VIP (C, D), and CGRP (E, F) in nasal secretions and tears of patients with ARC, AR, ACand healthy controls. SP: substance P, VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide, CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide, ARC: allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, AR: allergic rhinitis, AC: allergic conjunctivitis
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison between nasal secretions and tears with respect to the level of SP (A), VIP (B), and CGRP (C) in patients with ARC, AR, AC, and healthy control. SP: substance P, VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide, CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide, ARC: allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, AR: allergic rhinitis, AC: allergic conjunctivitis
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlation between VAS (the average of the total scores of itching and ocular itching) and level of SP (A, B), VIP (C, D), and CGRP (E, F) in of nasal secretions and tears of patients with ARC. VAS: visual analogue scale, SP: substance P, VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide, CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide, ARC: allergic rhinoconjunctivitis
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