Substance P and Hemokinin 1 in Nasal Lavage Fluid of Patients with Chronic Sinusitis and Nasal Polyposis

This pilot study was undertaken to isolate and quantify substance P (SP) and hemokinin 1 (HK-1) in the nasal lavage fluid of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps to better elucidate the pathophysiology underlying this inflammatory process, which remains poorly understood. Mucus samples were collected from this introductory cohort of 10 patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps at Tufts Medical Center (Boston, Massachusetts). Relative levels of SP and HK-1 were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay methods. Both inflammatory neuropeptides were found in detectable and comparable amounts in patient samples and in concentrations up to 100-fold those established in past literature. The presence of SP and HK-1 necessitates further investigation into their role in nasal polyposis and the potentiation of the chronic inflammation inherent to chronic rhinosinusitis. Downregulating these peptides could therefore provide novel treatment targets to manage this disease process.