Pathophysiology of neuroimmunomodulation in allergic rhinitis

Allregic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterised by blood and/or tissue eosinophilia. Subsequent activation of eosinophil functional responses with release of its cationic proteins result in tissue damage seen in the late phase reaction of allergic rhinitis. In the present study it is shown that neuropeptides such as substance P (SP), Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) and Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide (VIP) activate eosinophil degranulation and work in synergism with eotaxin and interleukin 5 (IL-5) resulting in exaggerated degranulation response. These results suggest the existance of novel neuroimmunoaxis in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis which could be a useful target for theurapetic approaches.