Capsaicin receptor (CR), substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene releated peptide (CGRP) in patients with different gastrointestinal disorders

Aims: By stimulating the capsaicin-sensitive nerves with capsaicin, SP and CGRP are released from these nerve endings. We were proved that these fibers and mechanism take place in the development of gastrointestinal mucosal damage/prevention (Mózsik, Abdel-Salam, Szolcsányi: Capsaicin-Sensitive Afferent Nerves in Gastric Mucosal Damage and Protection. Akadémiai Kiadó, Bp. 1997).

The aims of our study were to detect the immundistribution of CR1, SP and CGRP in different human gastric and large bowel disorders.

Materials and methods: 127 samples were taken from 106 subjects (57 males, 49 females, age: 21–84) suffered from superficial gastritis (51), erosive gastritis (5), gastric ulcer (4), gastric polyp (6), gastric adenocarcinoma (4), inflammatory bowel lesions (17), colon polyp and hyperplasia with slight dysplasia (17), colon polyp with moderate and severe dysplasia and colon adenocarcinoma (6). The immunostaining of SP, CGRP and CR1 antigenes were evaluated in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections of gastrointestinal biopsies using mono- and polyclonal antibodies (Abcam, Cambrige, UK).

Results: 1. The positivity of CR1 and CGRP was detected, meanwhile the weak participation of SP was detected in patients with different gastric diseases.; 2. The presence of CR1, CGRP and SP could be detected in chronic inflammation of bowel disease; 3. SP could not detected in patients with colon polyps, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma; 4. The presence of CR1 and CGRP was proved in colon dysplasia and adenocarcinoma.

Conclusion: 1. The immundistribution of CR1, CGRP and SP differs in the upper and lower gastrointestinal diseases; 2. The participation of CR1, CGRP and SP significantly differs in these different GI diseases.