一些研究调查了神经肽引起 NAR 患者自主神经调节失衡的作用。研究证实,感觉神经释放一部分神经肽,包括P物质、神经激肽A和降钙素基因相关肽,这可能对我们所观察到的 NAR 患者的生理变化(血管扩张和黏液分泌亢进)发挥了重要作用。[7]Baraniuk JN, Kaliner MA. Neuropeptides and nasal secretion. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 1990 Oct;86(4 Pt 2):620-7.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2229824?tool=bestpractice.com[9]Bernstein JA, Singh U. Neural abnormalities in nonallergic rhinitis. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2015 Apr;15(4):18.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26130469?tool=bestpractice.com 研究已证实,作为副交感神经系统组成部分的血管活性肠肽,引起乙酰胆碱的释放,增加鼻黏膜的腺体分泌反应和血管扩张。基于一项功能磁共振成像研究,我们提出了中枢神经系统机制的假说,该研究证实 NAR 患者不用或使用鼻用盐酸氮卓斯汀,对中枢神经系统血流模式对增味剂的反应会产生重大变化,而该局部用抗组胺药以前被批准用于治疗 NAR。[10]Bernstein JA, Hastings L, Boespflug EL, et al. Alteration of brain activation patterns in nonallergic rhinitis patients using functional magnetic resonance imaging before and after treatment with intranasal azelastine. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011 Jun;106(6):527-32.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21624753?tool=bestpractice.com 随后被证实,鼻内用辣椒素是瞬时感受电位香草酸亚家族蛋白 1 受体 (transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily, member 1, TRPV1) 激动剂,也是有效治疗 NAR 的重要组成部分,表明了 TRP 受体在 NAR 中的作用。[11]Bernstein JA, Davis BP, Picard JK, et al. A randomized, double-blind, parallel trial comparing capsaicin nasal spray with placebo in subjects with a significant component of nonallergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011 Aug;107(2):171-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21802026?tool=bestpractice.com 现已证实,盐酸氮卓斯汀可以激活 TRPV1 离子通道。[12]Singh U, Bernstein JA. Intranasal capsaicin in management of nonallergic (vasomotor) rhinitis. Prog Drug Res. 2014;68:147-70.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24941668?tool=bestpractice.com 持续暴露可以降低 TRPV1 离子通道的敏感性。这些研究结果表明了 NAR 的作用存在神经源性机制。这些离子通道可能是外界环境导致神经反应的第一个界面,引起副交感神经系统上调,导致血管舒张和黏液分泌增加。[13]Singh U, Bernstein JA, Haar L, et al. Azelastine desensitization of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1: a potential mechanism explaining its therapeutic effect in nonallergic rhinitis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2014 May-Jun;28(3):215-24.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24980233?tool=bestpractice.com
免疫组化研究检测了变应性鼻炎和非变应性鼻炎受试者鼻黏膜的 T 细胞亚群,并且发现这两组受试者既存在相同之处,又有明显差异。这些结果表明,在变应性鼻炎和 NAR 两组受试者中,参与早期炎症反应的细胞是不同的,但肥大细胞的数量似乎与两组受试者的浸润性 CD8+ T 淋巴细胞群有关。[14]Powe DG, Huskisson RS, Carney AS, et al. Mucosal T-cell phenotypes in persistent atopic and nonatopic rhinitis show an association with mast cells. Allergy. 2004 Feb;59(2):204-12.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14763935?tool=bestpractice.com 在 NAR 亚型中,炎症特征存在差异,非变应性鼻炎伴嗜酸粒细胞增多综合征中存在炎性嗜酸性粒细胞,但在其他亚型中却没有。[15]Terada N, Konno A, Fukuda S, et al. Interleukin-5 upregulates intercellular adhesion molecule-1 gene expression in the nasal mucosa in nasal allergy but not in nonallergic rhinitis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol. 1995 Feb;106(2):139-45.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7819742?tool=bestpractice.com[16]Demoly P, Sahla M, Campbell AM, et al. ICAM-1 expression in upper respiratory mucosa is differentially related to eosinophil and neutrophil inflammation according to the allergic status. Clin Exp Allergy. 1998 Jun;28(6):731-8.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9677138?tool=bestpractice.com