Imperial College London, London, UK.
Rhinology. 2011 Oct;49(4):453-7. doi: 10.4193/Rhino11.089.
Menthol and cold sensation trigger symptoms and reflex responses in the upper airway, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. We have therefore studied nerve fibres expressing the menthol and cold receptor TRPM8 in normal human mucosa, and in rhinitis. TRPM8 nerve fibres were compared with those expressing other TRP receptors including TRPV1 (capsaicin and heat receptor), and TRPA1 (mechano-cold receptor).
Immunohistology and image-analysis were used to study TRP receptors in biopsies of nasal turbinate from control subjects, patients with allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis.
TRPM8-immunoreactive nerve fibres were observed in the sub-epithelium, and were profuse around blood vessels in deeper regions, where they were markedly greater in number than TRPV1+ fibers. Image analysis of TRPM8 in sub-epithelial and vascular regions showed no significant differences between control and the rhinitis patient groups. TRPA1-immunoreactivity was weak and seen rarely in nerve fibres.
We show that TRPM8 nerve fibres are abundant in nasal mucosa particularly around blood vessels, and may mediate neurovascular reflexes. TRPM8 antagonists deserve consideration for therapeutic trial in rhinitis.
薄荷醇和冷觉会引发上呼吸道的症状和反射反应，但其中的分子机制尚不清楚。因此，我们研究了正常人类鼻黏膜和鼻炎中表达薄荷醇和冷受体 TRPM8 的神经纤维。将 TRPM8 神经纤维与表达其他 TRP 受体（包括 TRPV1（辣椒素和热受体）和 TRPA1（机械冷受体））的纤维进行了比较。
使用免疫组织化学和图像分析研究了来自对照组、变应性鼻炎患者和非变应性鼻炎患者的鼻甲活检标本中的 TRP 受体。
在黏膜下层观察到 TRPM8 免疫反应性神经纤维，在更深的区域血管周围丰富，其数量明显多于 TRPV1+纤维。对黏膜下层和血管区域 TRPM8 的图像分析显示，对照组和鼻炎患者组之间没有显著差异。TRPA1 免疫反应性较弱，神经纤维中很少见。
我们表明，TRPM8 神经纤维在鼻黏膜中特别丰富，尤其是在血管周围，可能介导神经血管反射。TRPM8 拮抗剂值得考虑在鼻炎的治疗试验中使用。
