[Up-regulated expression of NK1R in eosinophil-enriched blood cells from patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria].

Objective To investigate the expressions of substance P (SP) and neurokinin-1 receptor (NK1R) in eosinophil-enriched blood cells from patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Methods Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from patients with CSU and healthy controls (HCs), and then stimulated with crude extracts of Artemisia pollen, dust mite, and Platanus pollen (all at concentrations of 0.1 and 1.0 μg/mL). The expressions of SP and NK1R in eosinophil-enriched blood cells were detected by flow cytometry. Results Compared with HCs, eosinophil proportion in peripheral blood of CSU patients increased 1.2-fold. Percentage of NK1R eosinophils in the patients with CSU was elevated up to 66% compared with HCs when cultured in the medium only. However, the level of SP decreased by 40% in the CSU patients. In eosinophil-enriched blood cells from the CSU patients, the crude extract of dust mite at 0.1 μg/mL induced approximately 1.11-fold increase of NK1R expression. Conclusion Expression of NK1R increases in the eosinophils of CSU patients. Blockers of NK1R might be used for CSU treatment.