fMLP causes degranulation followed by regranulation in rat nasal glands

• Published in: The Laryngoscope 2003-11, Vol.113 (11), p.1998-2003
• Main Authors: Kim, Seon-Tae, Nakanaga, Takashi, Ueki, Iris, Nadel, Jay A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Degranulation - drug effects; Epidermal growth factor receptor activation; ErbB Receptors - metabolism; Granulation Tissue - cytology; Granulation Tissue - drug effects; Granulation Tissue - metabolism; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Medical sciences; mucin production; mucin secretion; N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine - adverse effects; Nasal Mucosa - drug effects; Nasal Mucosa - metabolism; Nasal Mucosa - pathology; neutrophils; Neutrophils - physiology; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Rats; Rats, Inbred F344; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; submucosal glands; Upper respiratory tract, upper alimentary tract, paranasal sinuses, salivary glands: diseases, semeiology
• ISSN: 0023-852X; 1531-4995
• DOI: 10.1097/00005537-200311000-00027

Objective: To determine the mechanism of mucus production by nasal glands. Study Design: Because neutrophilic inflammation is associated with mucus hypersecretion in disease states, here we examine the role of neutrophil recruitment in mucous cell degranulation and regranulation in rat nasal glands. Methods: N:‐formyl‐methionyl‐leucyl‐phenylalanine (fMLP) was aerosolized intranasally in rats (n = 5), and its effects on degranulation and regranulation of submucosal glands were evaluated by Alcian blue/periodic acid‐Schiff (AB/PAS) staining and by immunolocalization of neutrophils and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF‐R). Results: In control subjects, glands were filled with mucin. After fMLP inhalation, degranulation, 31.7 ± 0.8% (P < .01), was maximal at 2 to 4 hours. By 24 to 48 hours after fMLP inhalation, degranulation had decreased to 10.3 ± 0.6% (P < .05), indicating that regranulation of mucous glycoconjugates was occurring. After fMLP inhalation, neutrophils around submucosal glands increased within 0.5 hours from 1.4 ± 0.1 to 9.5 ± 0.3 per 0.0032 mm2 (P < .05). In control subjects, EGF‐R protein was expressed near acinar ducts, 16.4 ± 0.7% of gland area, and increased to 30.9 ± 0.9% (P < .05) 24 to 48 hours after fMLP inhalation. Nasal pretreatment with a selective EGF‐R tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BIBX1522, 15 mg/kg bid) prevented regranulation at 24 hours after fMLP inhalation (degranulation 27.8 ± 0.3%, P < .05, compared to 24 hours after fMLP alone), indicating that inhibition of EGF‐R activation had prevented regranulation after fMLP inhalation. Conclusions: Degranulation of rat nasal glands by fMLP is followed by regranulation; regranulation depends on a neutrophil‐associated EGF‐R cascade.