The expression and clinical significance of substance P high affinity receptor-neurokinin-1 receptor in Crohn′s disease / 中国普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the role of substance P (SP) and its neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R) in the pathophysiologic process of Crohn′s disease. Methods In 23 surgical patients of Crohn′s disease and 24 healthy controls, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression of NK-1R, Western blot analysis was used to determine NK-1R protein expression levels, and immunohistochemistry was used to localize expression of NK-1R. Results Compared with normal gut NK-1R mRNA and NK-1R protein in Crohn′s disease were overexpressed. In Crohn′s disease moderate to strong intestinal NK-1R immunoreactivity was found in the lamina propria mononuclear cells, lymphoid follicles, and the surface and crypt epithelium, lymphoid follicles, submucosal vessels, smooth muscle and myoenteric plexus neurones. Conclusions In cases of Crohn′s disease, overexpression of NK-1R may disturb neuropeptides loop balance, and may be involved in the pathophysiological change in this disease.